Spring has finally arrived, and people across the country are gearing up for a season of outdoor fun. Whether you’re picnicking, barbecuing or simply soaking up some rays, nothing crashes a party like an army of ants. However, with the proper tools, getting rid of ants is safe, easy and effective, both indoors and out.

“There are two basic ways to deal with ants,” said Stewart Clark, technical director of TERRO, the country’s leading pest control manufacturer. “Aerosol sprays offer immediate, short-term results. For a longer-term solution, turn to an ant bait product. This will actually get rid of the entire colony.”

Use TERRO’s liquid and granular ant baits, which are made with borax. This natural ingredient has a very low level of toxicity for humans but is deadly to ants. As the ant foragers from the colony look for food, they are attracted to the sweet food in the bait. Unwittingly, the ants consume the food and carry it back to the colony to share. The result is the elimination of the colony – and your ant problems.

The first thing you’ll want to do is find one of your pesky invaders. Instead of killing the ant, follow it. Since worker ants are sent out from the main colony in search of moisture and food to bring back, following an ant is a sure way to find out how they are entering the area. Look for ants that are carrying small bits of food – for this, a bright flashlight and patience are needed.

The first and often only treatment needed to control ants inside is to bait the ants with liquid ant bait, which is readily available at any local hardware, home improvement or lawn and garden retailers. The sweet liquid attracts ants quickly. The ants carry the bait to the colony, and this liquid is then distributed to other ants, including the queen.

Baiting is the best way to control ants – the ants do the work, and there is no need for exposure to harsh chemical insecticides. Place a liquid ant bait station close to where ants are located indoors. Using the bait station eliminates the problem of the bait drying out and gives the ants a continuous supply of liquid, day and night.

Liquid ant baits are specifically designed to kill the worker ant in two or three days. This slow kill is needed to allow time for the foraging ants to make several trips to the bait, and deliver enough bait to the rest of the colony. On days four and five, there should be a significant decrease in the number of ants visiting the bait.

When searching for ants outside the home, look for “ant highways” or foraging trails. These trails are simply a line of marching ants that leads from their home to yours. Often, these trails are most active during the morning or evening. Walk around the perimeter of the house and carefully check for ant trails.

Pull back the garden mulch, turn over rocks or look under pieces of wood in order to locate activity. Inspect around all potential entry points including windows, doors, exhaust vents, faucets and sliding glass doors. Also check for ants trailing up the sides of the building or along gutters. Remember that leaves and tree limbs in contact with a house are always special hot spots for larger carpenter ants.

Since most indoor and outdoor infestations are linked to a colony located underground outside the house, baiting ants outside may help provide a long-lasting ant solution. Outdoor liquid ant baits are specially packaged to be durable and weather-resistant.

If ants are still present, it may be helpful to determine what species they are. The most common pest ants found in the United States are on TERRO’s Web site at www.terro.com. Or, you can mail a sample ant to the company. TERRO ant experts will identify it at no charge and help you determine an action plan.