Request: Infestation Of Tiny Ants
Archived on 05/05/2009
I am losing a battle with small ants in my kitchen on my counter tops, sometimes in my bathroom since this started. I have used a can of Raid without success of eliminating them. My house is clean-I swear!
My liquid lemon pledge kills them on the spot but I think we chased them to the cupboard. I bought Terro liquid yesterday and put it on cardboard and strategically placed the pieces. While they are gone off the counter tops, they are in my cupboards now-I threw food away! Do I need the bait traps instead? I cannot find a nest inside or out.
Oh My Goodness I thought I would die this morning. Are they sweet ants? They are tiny as can be and we have never seen anything like it before. We feel like the Terro made it worse. Please help!
Susan from Columbus, Ohio
Feedback:
RE: Infestation Of Tiny Ants
We had these ants and the final straw was when I opened my work bag to find 50-100 inside! How embarrassing! We tried traps etc. but had to call an exterminator. One $95 visit from the exterminator and I have not seen a single ant. (03/27/2008)
By Laura
RE: Infestation Of Tiny Ants
I too have had this problem and after using Raid and Pinesol they never went away, they just moved from place to place in the kitchen. I finally got pest control to come out and they went away. I kept putting it off because I didn't want to pay, but it worked so I know it was worth the money. (03/27/2008)
By Danette
RE: Infestation Of Tiny Ants
If you are seeing them on the Terro, just be patient, in a week or so they'll be gone for good. If they are not on the Terro, mix a little bacon fat with it, and see if they take that (if they're not sweet eating ants, they're likely fat-eating). Once they take to eating it, you'll see an increase, because they think they've found the holy grail and the whole herd comes to eat. Then they take it home and...
This is the time of year. I always get them in the spring (around April); although they don't get past my window sill because out comes the Terro. I can count on them every year; but they're an annoyance, that's all. (03/27/2008)
By Jilson
RE: Infestation Of Tiny Ants
My grandma taught me this and it worked the one time I tried it. Vinegar in a spray bottle, that's it. Don't dilute. I sprayed it on any doorways, window sills, whatever. The higher traffic areas I re-sprayed 3 times. Haven't seen ants again since. Good luck! Chris (03/27/2008)
By Dans2ndwife
RE: Infestation Of Tiny Ants
If you can find some corn cobs they will not only get rid of the ants but keep them away. I would go to Walmart and get some corn that is for squirrels, shell the corn off and put the cobs in the cupboards. My ex's grandmother taught me this. (03/28/2008)
By deebomb
RE: Infestation Of Tiny Ants
My hubby had that issue with them here every year and would spray stuff all over. What I did, and we have never had a problem since, is sprinkle baby powder (or talc powder, body powder etc) all over the inside of the cabinets. I have been told they will not cross it.
Well I have seen them cross it but it did stop them from coming in at my house. In spring, I do the outer perimeter of the house with it and inside the cracks/edges of all the cabinets/windows. After doing this once each year there isn't a problem at all. Last year I just did the windows and door ways, and no ants.
The nice thing is that baby powder is cheap, non toxic to animals or kids, doesn't bother food, and sticks around forever, and you can use whatever scent you want. I had jasmine talc powder and loved having it scent the room when I opened the window a bit. (03/28/2008)
By Milenda.
RE: Infestation Of Tiny Ants
Just sprinkle cinnamon wherever you see them. They won't come back and it will smell nice. (03/28/2008)
By grandma
RE: Infestation Of Tiny Ants
If you put out cornmeal they will carry it back to the nest. It takes several days but somehow they can't digest it and it kills them all. I agree terro doesn't seem to work. We had it out for months before we saw results and they were just temporary. Best wishes. (03/28/2008)
By velsgal
RE: Infestation Of Tiny Ants
Living in Hawaii where nature is abundant--including the fauna, ants can be a problem. Until you can solve the problem, I learned that mixing a little Dawn dish washing liquid and water in a spray bottle then applying to the trail, will melt them on the spot. (03/28/2008)
By mokupuni
RE: Infestation Of Tiny Ants
Our youngest daughter had this same problem in her home that she and hubby had just built and purchased. To make a long story short the house was built and sitting on top of 4 different ant hills. Terminex was called in and they told the kids about the ant hills under their home; said they had never seen anything like it before. Go ahead and hire a pest control person to rid yourself of the problem once and for all. Good Luck. (03/28/2008)
By Paula
RE: Infestation Of Tiny Ants
I too wanted to write that the terro does work, you just have to be patient. I use it, and recommend it to others. Also, you can call the cooperative extension in your area and ask them. They give advice on practically anything you can think of! They told me to sprinkle baby powder on the carpet, and vacuum as usual. They die in there, so they don't crawl back out. (03/28/2008)
By dellajo
RE: Infestation Of Tiny Ants
The boric acid and sugar mixed with a little water and put on cotton balls in a container works for us. You can find the right mixture online. I keep it in a baggie marked POISON! Do not let children or pets near this, the ants will hoard in it and then take it back to the nest and it kills everything else. Good luck!
Editor's Note: The mixture is 2 parts boric acid to 1 part sugar and a little water. WARNING: Make sure to put this where it will not be found by children or pets. (03/28/2008)
By Michele
RE: Infestation Of Tiny Ants
My Elder on the Cherokee Reservation used cornmeal. But it should be sprinkled on the outside of the house and porch. (03/31/2008)
By Q.R
RE: Infestation Of Tiny Ants
I live in TX and everyone has sugar ants. They live in the walls and structure of your home. Mixing boric acid powder with honey or jelly will do the trick but it will take up to a month and it has to be placed where they can eat it. They do not like the scent of cinnamon or cloves, so if you can strategically place this out, it will work as a deterrent. The baby powder on the window sill works as well if you have pets in the back yard. If you do not have pets in the back yard, you can just use boric acid powder. You can also dust the attic with boric acid. I opened all of the electrical outlets and put powder in there too. They also do not like the scent of bleach, so once a week I would wipe the cabinets down with bleach water just so I wouldn't have to see them. They are definitely a royal pain! Be patient and put the bait where they can get to it and it will eventually kill them off. (04/02/2008)
By suzi_homemaker01
RE: Infestation Of Tiny Ants
We are having a real problem with them this year in Tulsa. I swear I've never seen anything like it. They are all over outside & we keep finding new cracks in the wall they have discovered to get into the house - I swear to my husband that they must have nests in our walls & attic - it really freaks me out!
One day my husband spilled a Sonic Cherry Lime-aid on the floor & used a white towel to clean it up, he threw the towel on top of the washing machine (dumb) & when I got up it the AM, the towel was completely black with ants & there was a trail going down the side of & under the washer that was 4" wide with ants! I nearly lost it right then!
I've been mixing hot water (1/2 cup) & powdered sugar(1/4 cup) with a drop of food coloring (so I can see it), then adding approx. 1T Borax & stir til dissolved. Whenever I see them in the house or outside, I put some in shallow milk cap lids or a couple of drops about quarter-sized in their path & pretty soon the little buggers are gathered around like cattle at a water tank, gobbling the stuff up. They take it back to their nest & die, then the others eat them & die too.
Within a day or 2 they are all gone - until the next bunch pops up somewhere! It is really hard not to kill the ants I see, but I know that the more of them that eat it, the more I'll kill in the long run. I haven't seen any around for a couple of weeks, but my son tells me he found a new bunch by our garage, so tomorrow I'll feed the starving things! My animals have never seemed interested in it, but I try to keep it at the back of my counters & against the walls or under furniture just in case.
You can keep a spray bottle of water with a few drops of dish soap, it kills them on contact, but it won't get rid of the ones in the nest like this does. (06/04/2008)
By lyonpridej
RE: Infestation Of Tiny Ants
Having the same problem here in AZ. I bought some oil of peppermint and they seem to be gone. I will wait a couple of days and see what happens. (09/17/2008)
By Luckylin
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