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Print Killing Ants & Spiders in Cars
There is nothing worse than having your vehicle infested with ants. It doesn't seem to matter how much you spray them, or wipe them away with a cloth they just keep on coming back. And don't get us started on spiders...You can clear away the spider webs 'til the cows come home but good luck keeping a spider still long enough so that you can blast it with fly spray.
Kiwicare receives regular requests from people at their wits end on how to control ants and other insects like spiders in vehicles. And here's the good news, you can get rid of them you just need to approach it in the right way. This article provides tips and tricks on how to get your vehicle bug free.
Why do ants and spiders infest cars?
If your car is going to be infested by insects, there's a very good chance that it's going to be ants. In fact some species of ant like the Argentine ant are are more inclined to making vehicles their home than other species. This may be one of the reasons this invasive species has spread across New Zealand so quickly. Argentines and other ant species also commonly infest electrical equipment both in vehicles and around buildings. This means that there's more risk than just the 'ick factor'. If ants have gotten into the electronics of your vehicle it can lead to shorting and electronic failure.
Where possible avoid eating in your car as food and crumbs can be particularly attractive to ants. It may attract ants to set up shop in your car, or if they're already set up, encourage them to stay.
Spiders are also commonly found in and on vehicles. This is because vehicles are made up of all the things that spiders love, dark holes to hide in, dust and dirt to help with their web making and warmth. Not to mention hydrocarbon from fuel (which helps them better identify each other). And if your car has food and crumbs, then it can attract other insects that spiders view as a food source. The biggest problems people face with spiders in vehicles is that they can cover wing mirrors with their webs and the vibrations your car makes when you're driving can upset them making them more likely to drop down on you or run up your arm - not ideal if you have arachnophobia. But did you know that due to their love of hydro-carbon they've also been known to set up nests and webs in airlines, that can then result in cracked fuel tanks. In fact it can be such an issue that in 2014 Mazda had to recall their Mazda 6 line in the US due to spiders causing damage.
Tips for getting rid of an ants in your vehicle
- For one week place small amounts of NO Ants Nest Killer Gel Bait in clean, well-rinsed jam jar lids or on masking tape in multiple places in the vehicle where the bait will not spill, be stood on or touched by passengers (keep children and pets in mind). Another option is to use NO Ants Bait Stations and place them in the same areas. Bait stations are a particularly good option if you do regularly have children and pets in the vehicle. Also, place bait in secure places outside the vehicle where it is kept parked (e.g. in a garage on the drive). During this period ants will eat the bait and take it back to their nest, where it will kill other members of their colony.
- After using bait for a week, or when no more ants are seen, spray the underside of the vehicle, wheels, wheel arches, engine bay, door jams, etc. with NO Ants Barrier Spray or NO Bugs Super. We do not recommend spraying exterior paintwork as the products may leave a haze on paintwork.
- The vehicle can also be fumigated. Put the vehicle with windows rolled down in a garage and use NO Bugs Super Bug Bombs or NO Bugs Super Fumigators (Borafume) set off outside the vehicle but in the garage. Calculate the number of fumigators required based on the volume of the garage.
- Sprinkle NO Ants Ant Sand under and around where the vehicle is parked in places like cracks in the concrete and gaps between paving stones.
Tips for getting rid of spiders in your vehicle
Spray the underside of the vehicle, wheels, wheel arches, engine bay, door jams, wing mirrors, etc. with NO Spiders Total Protection or NO Bugs Super. We do not recommend spraying exterior paintwork as the products may leave a haze.
Also, spray the ground in the area where the vehicle is parked.
For year-long protection, you may need to carry out this treatment 2-3 times per year.
How to keep bugs out of your car
The best way to keep your vehicle pest free is to:
- Vacuum your vehicle regularly and clear dust from the dashboards and doors;
- Avoid eating in the car, and if you do clean up all food waste as soon as you park; and
- Treat your vehicle 2-3 times a year with a barrier spray like NO Bugs Super. It's safe for kids and pets once dry, but can kill insects that have a lot of contact with it, and insects will generally avoid treated areas.
