ants

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I now know that SPRING is reall here. The black ants are in my kitchen. In 8 years I cannot find out where they are comming from. They will only be around for a few weeks and then for a week later in the year. Is there any herbs I can use or anything safe I can use.??????? Thankyou.

-- bonnie in indiana (queqid@att.net), April 07, 2002

Answers

I've heard that "Borax" will discourage them.

-- Marcia (HrMr@webtv.net), April 07, 2002.

I'm sure it doesn't apply to you,as your ant problem is in the house,but we have a fire ant problem in the yard.An oldtimer around here told me a surefire remedy for fire ants...pee on them !!

Now,the old man cannot seriously expect me to squat outside and follow his suggestion!!!??? Anyway,it did tickle my funny bone...

-- Johna (in central TX) (marcnjohna@aol.com), April 07, 2002.


I've had pretty good luck with a mixture of lemon juice and hot sauce. I either pour or brush it on whereever I see the little boogers. It lasts a full season or until its washed off. I also use dry cleanser (I use the kind with bleach) Just watch where they go and sprinkle it on the trail they use and they'll leave. I've even used it in the grass by my clothesline. They were the biting kind, but not fireants. Never saw anymore near the clothesline.

-- Gaylel in KY (gayleannesmith@yahoo.com), April 07, 2002.

I have been told this, (haven't tried it) but ants do not cross flouride. Put flouride toothpaste in a blender of water, mix and pour it accross their path. Let us know if it works.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), April 07, 2002.

No doing that on fire ants will not desturb them, I tried. Fact I think I have tried almost everything.

-- David (bluewaterfarm@mindspring.com), April 08, 2002.


Ants of all kinds are easy to get rid of with food grade Diatiomaceous Earth. Industrial grade DE, such as is used in swimming pool filters, won't work. Part of being food grade is it's 100% DE....NOT 90% DE, 10% inert ingredients.

I've only had ants in the house once. I sprinkled the DE along their route in the house and where they were coming into the house. I also sprinkled where they were entering outside. They were gone over-night. Since I feed my critters the food grade DE and it's in most everything we put in our mouths, I don't have to worry about killing us or the critters.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2222@hotmail.com), April 08, 2002.


We had a really bad problem with black ants at our house in the city. I liberally poured baking soda into all the antholes I could find (they're usually lurking around cracks in basement walls and sidewalk cracks) It seemed to work pretty good, but then the little red ones (NOT fire ants) showed up. The black ones never did come back, though. I poured about 5-500g boxes around all the ant holes. I'm not sure what that is in US measurments anymore since the Gov't here, in all it's infinite wisdom, decided to convert everything to metric! I would guess that it is about a 1/4 lb box? We had a REALLY bad infestation, though, and I'm not sure how bad yours is. At any rate, baking soda worked for us. Hope it works for you if you try it. Wishing you peace...Judy

-- Judy Hill (hillsacres@sk.sympatico.ca), April 08, 2002.

P.S. I have also heard, Johna, that pee works...It's just not socially acceptable to go pee in the driveway in the city...ROFL! :o) Judy

-- Judy Hill (hillsacres@sk.sympatico.ca), April 08, 2002.

Oh what a picture in my mind ROFL!!

That said, (heheheheh) the active insect repellant in urine is - ammonia - the straight stuff sprayed on the ground around the house and down in the cracks will deter them.

Also, I've known menfolk to use a bucket during the day and spread it around the exterior of the barn....the womens just used the outhouse.

-- Michaela (flhomestead@hotmail.com), April 08, 2002.


I have heard of using used coffee grounds, cinamon (sp>). I too have the little black ants in my kitchen a few weeks every year. I just squash them when I see them. Put a couple ant traps around. They don't seem to get into the foods or sugar bowl so I figure why go nuts over them. Don't get as excited over them as I use too. Old age...or maybe I just know when I've been beat !! Could look into getting an ant eater (LOL) !!! Good Luck !!

-- Helena (windyacs@npacc.net), April 08, 2002.


Make a paste of honey and boracic acid powder, put it in bottle caps and place them where they run. They carry it back to the nest and feed it to the brood.

-- Griff (griff@hangnail.com), April 08, 2002.

Not sure how it works for greater arenas, but a bay leaf in your sugar bowl will keep all ants away. I have tried using bay leaves in other areas, and it SEEMS to work, (such as the trash bag and other asttractive areas). Give it a try - can't hurt! Shotgun works well also, but the constant repairs to the house at the site of the deceased ant gets tedious! GL!!

-- Brad (Homefixer@SacoRiver.net), April 08, 2002.

I used white vinegar to wipe down any area where I saw ants. It doesn't seem to bother carpenter ants but I never saw the little ones again.

-- Bonnie (stichart@plix.com), April 08, 2002.

I've found that Terro works best for sugar ants in the house. It's a borax mixture that you set out and let the ants come to it and eat it. Gets 'em all out of their hidey holes and kills the whole infestation.

-- Susan in MO (smtroxel@NOSPAMsocket.net), April 08, 2002.

I have used terro for quiet some time now, it does kill them, but then a new bunch crops up in a different place, I can't seem to kill enough of them. They have infested my trees in the yard and killed them, my house plants, terro just kills the one bunch, another group replaces them. If anyone can help please tell me. I have gotten so tired of them.I wish I could keep them from killing my plants.

-- Vanessa H (tvhayes@earthlink.net), April 14, 2002.


I too have a problem with little black sugar ants, last year I just went and grabbed my Avon Foot Spray and it knocked them out for the rest of the year. This year they have recently started up again and I got my trusty foot spray out again and it works, I spray all around the windows and just leave the residue there. I am going to take it outside where they are crawling all around and zap them there also! I am really impressed at how well it works for ants, doesn't do anything for your feet.

-- Anne Parker (kenparker@alltel.net), May 09, 2002.

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