During the "Sonsakspan Net" on the 30 December 2025 @ 16h30 the above question was asked by one of the participants as he experience an invasion in an electrical box. AI provided the following information:
Ants nest in electrical boxes because they offer perfect shelter: warmth, darkness, and protection from predators and weather, especially in outdoor boxes where they get a dry spot during rain. Some ants, like invasive fire ants and crazy ants, are even attracted to the electromagnetic fields (EMF), micro-vibrations, and potential starch in old wiring, creating a feedback loop where dead ants release pheromones that attract more ants, leading to serious electrical issues and potential fire hazards.
Why Ants Are Attracted
Warmth: Electrical components generate heat, providing a cozy nesting site, especially in winter.
Shelter & Darkness: Boxes offer a secure, undisturbed, dark space, away from the elements and predators.
Moisture: They can find moisture in soil or condensation within the box.
Food (Sometimes): Some older insulation contains starch that ants might eat.
Electromagnetic Fields (EMF): Certain species, such as Tawny Crazy Ants and Fire Ants, are attracted to the oscillating magnetic fields (60 Hz in North America) and electromagnetic signals emitted by live wires.
Pheromone Feedback Loops: When an ant enters a switch and is electrocuted, it releases "alarm pheromones". These chemicals signal a threat, causing hundreds of other ants to swarm the source to "attack" it, eventually clogging the mechanism with dead bodies.
Risks & Problems They Cause
Short Circuits & Failures: Ants build nests with soil, which can bridge connections, causing shorts, tripped breakers, or power outages.
Corrosion: Moisture from their nests, combined with soil, corrodes wires and components, leading to equipment failure.
Pheromone Trails: When ants die from electrocution, they release alarm pheromones that attract even more ants, worsening the infestation.
Fire Hazard: Overheating wires from nesting material or short circuits can create a significant fire risk.
What to Do
Clean & Seal: Thoroughly clean out nests, use caulk to seal entry points around boxes, and remove food sources.
Use Baits: Place ant baits near but not in the boxes to eliminate the colony at its source.
Call a Pro: For serious infestations, especially with invasive species, contact a pest control professional.
Recipe to remove ants in a household: (NOT ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT!!)
Using borax and sugar creates an effective, slow-acting ant bait because sugar attracts ants, while the borax (boric acid) kills them once ingested, allowing worker ants to carry it back to the colony to eliminate the queen and larvae. A common ratio is 3 parts sugar to 1 part borax, mixed into a paste with a little water or syrup, placed in shallow dishes (like bottle caps) near ant trails, but always keep it away from kids and pets.
Images sourced from the Internet. (Click on images for larger view.)
