They have come to take over our house and conquer us. Time to get serious. Looking for some of this to put around the outside perimeter of the house, and sweep between the pavers. Chemical warfare time.
Saturday, August 10, 2013
The Battle is Joined
Looks like the weekend is going to be spent doing battle with ants. For some reason, this summer has been the worst we've had for ants in our 30 years here. All of the usual tricks, cleaning away trails and sealing openings, occasional spraying (with whatever the enviro-weenies allow for general use ant sprays) hasn't stopped them. The sprays kill the ones they touch, then are useless. No residual action at all. The ants have found the cat foods; this morning Mojo's food bowl had areas that were black with ants.
They have come to take over our house and conquer us. Time to get serious. Looking for some of this to put around the outside perimeter of the house, and sweep between the pavers. Chemical warfare time.
They have come to take over our house and conquer us. Time to get serious. Looking for some of this to put around the outside perimeter of the house, and sweep between the pavers. Chemical warfare time.
We get the little, tiny red/brown ants out here.
ReplyDeleteThey show up when it rains a lot and drives them out of their tunnels, and when it's very dry, forcing them to look for water.
We've found talcum powder sprinkled around the door entrances is good to keep them out of the house, and it's safe for the dogs.
And I've put those little plastic ant baits outside the dog area where thy can haul the poisoned bait back to their burrows.
I don't think we get those. We have tried diatomaceous earth (food grade, no less) and it had no effects.
DeleteWe get the little ghost ants or crazy ants, and have had fire ants find a way to our indoor garbage can, leaving a highway trail to the mound. All of those have been trivial compared to these big head ants.
I realize it doesn't do anything about the mothership, but I sure do enjoy spritzing the individual scouts with Windex--kills 'em on the spot. I also think it destroys the scent trail (for those coming behind).
ReplyDeletePersonally, I'm ready for the flamethrower. Little hard on the furniture, though.
DeleteCarpenter ants?
ReplyDeleteI tried to paste a link but no joy. See your email
I tried to deal with them but ended up calling "the guy".
Good luck.
Terry
Fla.
Now I know who E. O. Wilson was.
ReplyDeleteOrkin, 5 months of the year, works for us here in Oregon.
Nuke it from orbit. Its the only way to be sure. Lol
ReplyDeleteIt has crossed my mind.
DeleteTried grits?
ReplyDeleteSugar and borax, dissolved in water and boiled down into a syrup. Place it near their trails where they can find it. The borax builds up in the ants back in the next -- including the queen -- until they die. You can even find some commercial preparations of it, but the raw ingredients are cheap enough.
ReplyDeleteThese ants are completely uninterested in sugar or honey, or anything sweet we've left out. They are drawn to fats. I've left a butter knife on the counter and forgotten it for an hour. When I remember it, it's black with them. Drop a small piece of cheese and watch them carry it along the floor. I've never really seen fat-seeking ants before.
Delete