I recently read an article that claimed orange peels can kill ants. An extract found on the peels, D-Limonene, kills the ants by destroying the wax coating on the insect’s respiratory system.
While cooking breakfast one morning, I discovered three things: We had many small ants in our bacon grease container, an orange in the fruit basket, and a desire to avoid commercial ant killer.
I placed equal amounts of orange peel and water into a blender to form a paste. I placed the orange paste into a small, recessed plate and used a jar lid in the middle as an elevated platform to support the bacon grease container. Any ant’s access to the bacon grease required crossing — and making direct, prolonged contact with — the paste. According to my experience, this barrier of orange paste will work for at least 72 hours.
Ward Stern
New Hope, Alabama