Ants!!

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Raizinman

Raizinman

Platinum Member
Sep 7, 2007
2,355
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meettomy.site
Noticed many ant hills around my property for the first time in about 15 years. Found a long string of them going into the attached garage. Sprayed the string for as far back (20 or 30 feet) from the garage. A few days later, they are back. What can someone suggest as something that I can spray or drop in pellet form. Do I need an exterminator? Keep in mind that I have a dog and outside cat, so it can't be too toxic.
 
DrPizza

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Mar 5, 2001
49,601
167
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www.slatebrookfarm.com
I don't recommend this, but I've always just poured a little bit of gasoline on the ant hill, waited 5 minutes or so for the fumes to spread throughout, then from a reasonable distance, toss a match. Fwoooof - the flames spread along the ground showing the extent of the ant hill. Ants gone. I did discover once while doing this, asphalt driveways are flammable.
 
M

MustISO

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
11,927
12
81
For the ant hills, boiling water will typically kill the nest. Spraying will kill ants on contact but without killing the nest or the queen more will come. Get some Terro ant bait gel and put it near their trail where the pets can't get to it. It contains borax which is small doses shouldn't be harmful to pets. If they're sweet feeders they will swarm to it and after a few applications they should be gone.

You can make your own mixture as well with sugar and borax. Plenty of videos online.
 
lxskllr

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
59,256
9,759
126
I hear peppermint oil keeps them out of the house. I don't care about critters that aren't in the house.
 
B

Blain

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
23,643
3
81
Powder the mound and surrounding area with Delta Dust.
You might also dust along the base of the garage.

"DELTA DUST containing deltamethrin is the world's first and only 100% waterproof insecticide dust, so it works in the wet and damp places that insects love. Nothing short of running water will disturb it, making Delta Dust an ideal crack and crevice treatment..."
 
Elixer

Elixer

Lifer
May 7, 2002
10,371
762
126
Terro does work for the small ants.
That don't stop the big fat ones though. For those, you can light some charcoal, get it nice and hot (glowing), throw it down the hole, and put a lid/rock on the mound.
If you don't want to try fire, get some dry ice ( a few pounds), stuff that down the hole, and cover the hole with a bucket...and the CO2 will eventually reach the queen, and kill her.
If they are fire ants, and you have the right protection on, you can create a turf war between the colonies and watch the battle! Then take out the "winners" with CO2 or CO.
 
G

Greenman

Lifer
Oct 15, 1999
21,885
6,250
136
You can't beat ants, all you can do is fight them to a stand still and maintain a holding action.
 
boomerang

boomerang

Lifer
Jun 19, 2000
18,883
641
126
If they're heading towards the garage, what is attracting them? Is there a food source? Pet food perhaps? You should eliminate the food source.

If they are carpenter ants, the food source is the house. You obviously can't eliminate that but you'll want to treat the problem more aggressively.
 
E

echo4747

Golden Member
Jun 22, 2005
1,979
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Last edited:
KK

KK

Lifer
Jan 2, 2001
15,903
4
81
Greenman said:
You can't beat ants, all you can do is fight them to a stand still and maintain a holding action.
Click to expand...

Sure you can, termidor will wipe out the whole colony. The ants get the termidor on them and it doesn't kill them on the spot like demon WP will. Ants will take the termidor into the nest and ants will clean each other and transfer the termidor thoughout the nest and wipe it out. I used to use Demon(Cyper) WP all the time and it is a great product as it kills and will keep all types of bugs at bay, but for ants, I don't think you can beat the termidor product. I know the label says you aren't to use the product on ant mounds and that it's supposed to be used within so many feet of your house, but you aren't supposed to remove the labels off your mattresses too.
 
Last edited:
paperfist

paperfist

Diamond Member
Nov 30, 2000
6,539
286
126
www.the-teh.com
KK said:
Sure you can, termidor will wipe out the whole colony. The ants get the termidor on them and it doesn't kill them on the spot like demon WP will. Ants will take the termidor into the nest and ants will clean each other and transfer the termidor thoughout the nest and wipe it out. I used to use Demon(Cyper) WP all the time and it is a great product as it kills and will keep all types of bugs at bay, but for ants, I don't you can beat the termidor product. I know the label says you aren't to use the product on ant mounds and that it's supposed to be used within so many feet of your house, but you aren't supposed to remove the labels off your mattresses too.
Click to expand...

Sounds like that stuff will lead to ant extinction. Then what?
 
shimpster

shimpster

Senior member
Jul 5, 2007
458
1
0
How to Get Rid of Ants With Apple Vinegar

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/rid-ants-apple-vinegar-74243.html

Mix one part water and one part apple cider vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray along the ant trails where you typically see the ants march in lines. Do this after you notice ants come into your home in large numbers. They follow the scent from ants that have gone before them. Ant trails usually start from a baseboard, window or door and end where you have the ant infestation. The spray helps stop the ants following the current path into your home.

Spray the vinegar solution along baseboards or other areas where you think the ants are coming into your home so the ants that are still outside cannot find the scent trail. Also, apply the spray along counters, cabinets and other areas where the ants frequent. Spray so you evenly moisten the areas with the solution.

Direct the spray at the ants and saturate them with the solution to kill them. This works well to kill a large number of ants at one time. Come back in about one hour to wipe up the dead ants.

Repeat two or three times a week to keep ants at bay. Increase the apple cider vinegar concentrate to improve effectiveness, if necessary, and repeat applications.

Things You Will Need

Spray bottle
Apple cider vinegar

Tip

Use white vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar to help control ants.
When you notice just one or two ants, kill them immediately. You can squish them with a napkin, if desired. These ants are likely scouts, and if they don't return back to the nest, you might stop your home from being infested.
 
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