Re: Reviving the ant conversation

Here is a boric acid mixture.  We used it, and the ants are gone.

Last paragraph has mix.


Control Sugar Ants With Baits

By Richard Fagerlund
For the Journal

ASK THE BUGMAN: Q: I have a yearly problem with tiny ants that arrive on my kitchen counter around the sink every July. They stay for the hot weather and just as mysteriously disappear in six weeks or so. The head and body of the ant is [-inch in length or less.
I am careful to clean up any spills or food left on plates. Failure to do so results in an immediate invasion of the tiny creatures. Even with no food, they roam around the counter top and become a general nuisance. I do not keep the garbage under the sink. I have tried ant traps, but they are too smart to enter. I'm reluctant to use sprays and such, as this is a food preparation area.— H.G., Grants

A: Most of the so-called "sugar" ants that get on counters can be controlled with ant-bait stations. If the one you are using isn't working, it is probably because it is the wrong formulation for the species of ant you are trying to control.
Some ant-bait stations appeal to sweet-loving ants, while others are designed for protein-feeding ants. One good bait is a product called Advance Dual Choice, which has both sweet and protein ingredients and appeals to more species of ants than the other baits.
Advance Dual Choice is not available in stores but it can be purchased online at www.pestcontrolsupplies.com, which is an Albuquerque-based company.

You also can make your own bait using 3 ounces of peanut butter (protein), three ounces of honey (sweet) and 1 teaspoon of boric acid. Mix, and place in little paper cups where the ants are foraging, and where children or pets can't come in contact with it.




VickieHerndonCMT wrote:
Well, I knew I had seen a few ants, but not disastrously so, but today when I got down on the floor to do some yoga, I looked around and I was in the midst of the little buggers. I grabbed my purple vacuum cleaner and got them up, BUT what I would like to know is IS THERE ANYTHING that is safe to use with my dogs in the house? I don't want them to get poisoned. There is no food on the floor. I keep this place spotless. This is the 3rd floor. This is an apartment and I know I can call, but I am afraid what they will do will hurt my guys.

I want to think in terms of safe other than vacuuming them up. I have a feeling there could be a neverending stream of these annoyances.

I have berber carpet in here with some rooms with my own rugs on top of it so they could have been here for awhile. I just never got down on the floor there before. I guess they blend in with this horrid berber.




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