getting rid of sugar ants on countertop

I've been seeing sugar ants on my counter for the past two weeks. They seem to appear after I start preparing a meal. I'm sure they're sugar ants because they go right for anything sweet. But I'm afraid to spray anything since they're only on my kitchen counter! What can I do there that won't poison my family?

I'm guessing you are calling these ants sugar ants because you notice them feeding on something sweet. That knowledge can be used against them in the form of a sweet ant bait. In other words, the safest and most effective approach for these ants will be to apply some of the Honeydew Ant Gel where you've been seeing them. You can make the placement on a paper plate if you aren't comfortable sticking some out on the counter somewhere. Since these ants are coming out looking for food, they'll surely come out for this sweet gel once it's applied. The key here is that once you set some out, you'll have to refrain from using the countertop till after they've been feeding on the gel for a few days. This will insure they get a good dose of it and then share it with other nest members as explained in our Ant Control article. Chances are high their nest is close by but well hidden so spraying wouldn't be an option. This is the only way you'll be able to get rid of these ants so be sure to have some patience to get the desired results.