HELP! out of control ant problem
#1
HELP! out of control ant problem
I have an ant infestation. House is on a slab. Every time I think I have it under control they come back in another area.... Most of the time they are in the kitchen (of course....food source). Is there any home remedy methods I can do or try before I call an exterminator? I have tried mixing sugar and borax and had no luck... I was thinking about mixing the borax with some jelly and trying that but unsure of how much to mix.. Please share some ideas........
#2
You don't say what kind of ants. but I suggest you go online and get a product called Timbor.One source, Do It Yourself Pest Control Products, has not only the products but expert advice available. Actually, Timbor is a versatile wood preservative for controlling wood tunneling (ants) and wood eating organisms (termites, mold, mildew, algae) without being a hazard to pets and children. Also, because it is the nature of ants to carry food back to the nest rather than consuming it where it is found, putting the powder form down on the ant trails you discover and also on bait food will cause them to pick up the poison as they pass through it and it will be carried back to the nest. The workers will ingest it while preening. The poison on the food will be ingested by the larvae. I think the main reason your borax/sugar approach is failing is because the crystals are too big to adhere to these tiny critters.
#3
Group Moderator
I use liquid Terro inside and the solid ant products around the perimeter of the house - sometimes takes a few weeks to get on top of them
Ants are everywhere, you won't get rid of them permanently without ongoing treatment
Ants are everywhere, you won't get rid of them permanently without ongoing treatment
#5
Forum Topic Moderator
For the smaller species of ants, liquid ant bait, such as Terro is terrific. The gel baits are also. It is usually boric acid based. Usually 6% active ingredient. Much easier to buy it then make your own. If it is too strong or too weak it won't work.
Tim-Bor is a good choice for larger ants. Can be used as a spray or dust. It is a very versatile chemical, I always have some around. Kills mold/fungus, too.
Tim-Bor is a good choice for larger ants. Can be used as a spray or dust. It is a very versatile chemical, I always have some around. Kills mold/fungus, too.
#6
Group Moderator
I have had little luck with the modern boric acid formula of Terro but when I find bottles of the old stuff (arsenic) I make sure to keep them because it works great. The best commonly available product I have found for ants is Cynoff WP.
#7
Ant craziness remedy!
I've lived in my home now for 5 years and have been dealing with ant infestations inside the home. They come in through outlets and in bathroom and kitchen cabinets etc. I've tried pellets in the lawn, spraying raid, I have OCD so I already am a clean freak and all kitchen food is in zip locks and packaged extra good and still no luck. I finally found the remedy and am enjoying a ant free home for the first time in 5 yrs starting with this summer. Here's what I did. Last summer I removed all electrical plug plates and with a spoon put borax in the walls of these outlets ( all of them ) upstairs and down. I went through all my cabinets and along the insides of them I put borax. I did not add any sugar :NO NO NO:. The borax works by sticking to their tiny legs and suffocates them. They have pores in their legs that they breath with. Plus they take it to their lair and the queen eats it and bingo dead queen! It takes awhile for this to work. At least a good season. We don't get them during the winter so this summer was the test. Not ONE ant to mention so far. I'm also spraying Hot Shots concentrate along the perimeter of my home and around windows once a month. Be patient my little ant killers for this to work and be diligent and soon the ants will be a thing of the past
#8
Member
ant infestation
I don't know if i have te patience to do all you did with the outlets,etc but I'm getting sick of the ziploc bags and just randomly finding these ants "everywhere" (mostly kitchen/bathroom also) The Terro worked GREAT for the carpenter type/larger black ants but not so great on my current invasion of the teeny "sugar ants"- brown. They don't seem interested- even when i mixed in honey. I can't do what you did as I have a dog- too dangerous i think. A lot of their paths are where he goes (and of course near his dog dish- i have to keep any stray kibble off the floor- they move FAST when they see one- it's astounding) They literally come out of the woodwork.
I am BECOMING obsessed and sick about it. Don't know what else to use. My friend told me an Exterminator said to use your dog's Frontline and mix in some sugar...(similar to their products) I may try this but again- limited where I can put it.
Good luck to all of us keeping their populations DOWN! Yuck
deb
I am BECOMING obsessed and sick about it. Don't know what else to use. My friend told me an Exterminator said to use your dog's Frontline and mix in some sugar...(similar to their products) I may try this but again- limited where I can put it.
Good luck to all of us keeping their populations DOWN! Yuck
deb