Black ant invasion! Help!

[maxiesmom]

Does anyone have a pet friendly way to get rid of black ants? For the last few days I have been swatting one or two in our kitchen. So far today, I must have killed 10 of them. Yuck! We have no food on our counters. No dirty dishes in the sink. And all our recyclables are out in our garage. What else can I do to make our house look less attractive? Can anyone recommend a good way to kill the ones that do come inside? I need something that will not hurt my Lab if she comes into contact with it. TIA!

 

[OK!]

I have an extremely nosy cat and he's been able to stay away from Raid Ant Baits, which are what I use every year for the annual invasion. I do make an effort to keep them away from him, like just inside a closet door, under my outside welcome mat, etc., but I can limit the # of places I have to put them because all of my ants march right in the front door. Awfully courteous of them, when you think about it.

 

[Cindyluwho]

leave out a small amount of 1/2 borax & 1/2 sugar on the counter. They will take it home to feed their friends, when they return home they will be cleaned by the "cleaning crew" that greets them at their home. Every ant that cleans them and every ant that shares their feast will die. It's a long process, but it works. FYI Litter boxes/cat urine attracts ants something fierce!

 

[geffric]

i have an ant problem too. I just did the vingear wipe to see if that would help..

other natural remendies I have heard of is

Ground Cinnamon buy some ground cinnamon and put it where you think the ants are coming in. You can even put it on the window sills and it won't hurt your kids or pets. Try it. It works.
C
Catnip I was investigating herb companions for my garden and came across this tidbit. Basil repels flies and mosquitoes. To deter ants, use catnip. Sprinkle it in their paths.

 

[I'mNoPrince]

Some maple syrup on your neighbors doorways always worked for us

Just drop the traps and you should be fine.

 

[chager]

I put epsom salts around my front door outside last year. I also used it around my pantry last year along with ant traps. We use Max Attracts Ant Bait for the traps. We have to watch to make sure the animals don't intential play with them and that no one gets into the salt. Last year everyone left them alone, but this year we have a new addition (an 8 mo old Aussie) and she just can't stay out of ANYTHING!!!!

 

[mmcguire]

You may want to call an exterminator. When they spray, you just have to keep your pets away until it dries. We have two cats, and no problems.

We had the same kind of ants start coming in intermittently through our kitchen, den door, and the dining room last summer. They would appear in one room, and we'd get rid of them using stuff we bought at Lowe's. They'd pop up elsewhere a week or two later. Like you, we didn't leave out food (except the cats' food -- they still gotta eat!), and kept things swept/vacuumed. As soon as it warmed up a couple of weeks ago, the ants attacked again from all three spots they'd entered last year -- all in the same day! It was awful!!! I called a pest control company, and they came in and sprayed inside and out -- haven't see an ant since. We're on an annual plan -- $225, and they come out and spray every quarter. Seems a little hefty, but the sprays, etc. from Lowe's aren't cheap either. It's really disgusting to see those things in the rooms where you take your meals, freaked out DD4, and I was always worried they'd make an appearance while we had people over.

 

[poochie]

I too am under invasion. all my petfood is in tupperware cointainers snapped firmly shut too. I have the ant traps for the past month. I mean not as many but very annoying. At least a couple a day. I mean I just itch just thinking of them. I am wondering if they came in from the silver maple in my yard that was damaed during the Oct storm.

 

[irishbosoxfan]

We are having a horrible time with the ants this year!!

They came in thru the back door and commandered the cats food bowl I sprayed them down and the inside of the door as well.

2 days later they were in the living room--they crawled in thru the closed window--hosed down that window sill,wall and floor under.

About 2 days after that they were back in the cats food again--this time they came in thru a closed kitchen window(so much for energy efficient)-They were so thick in this window. I hosed them down,waited a couple of minutes then used a stick to remove them from the track(window track not sill track)

Now tonight DD9 has found some crawling around the kitchen floor!! I have no clue what else to do. I am just so tired of them but the Raid ant killer is awesome!!!

 

[tevagirl]

Did you know that if you draw a circle of chalk around an ant it won't cross over the chalk line?

That won't get rid of them, of course, but it was entertaining to watch the little ant go back and forth, back and forth, inside the circle.

Yes I know, I need to get out more.

 

[Reflection]

Another vote getting an exterminator, but here are other non-toxic options:

stick bay leaves or mint leaves in crevices where you see ants entering
chalk (previously mentioned)
cinnamon (previously mentioned)
Orange Guard (a spray that you can find at Whole Foods)

 

[ducklite]

If these are large black ants, you need an exterminator. They are Carpenter ants, and as destructive as termites!

Anne

 

[darlak]

A solution that I've used many times is to sprinkle Comet powdered cleanser around the location where they're entering your home. Of course, this means that you must first identify the points of entry. My pets have never been interested in the Comet. I always take several cans along with me whenever we go camping. I've never seen an ant willing to cross the line or circle.

 

[freckles and boo]

If these are large black ants, you need an exterminator. They are Carpenter ants, and as destructive as termites!

Anne

I was also going to ask how big they are. The little, black "sugar" ants seem to invade here when the rains start and they get flushed out of their hidey holes. We just use ant traps inside and spray around the perimeter of the house on the outside. I don't want pesticides in my house if I can avoid it. Like Anne said, if these guys are big (around 3/8" long or bigger) you should get someone in as soon as possible. They are called carpenter ants because they excavate wood for their nests.

 

[GraysMom]

I've used grits on the little black ants we have outside during the summer. I usually pour the dry grits around the bricks in our patio where they like to build anthills. According to a gardening book, the ants eat the grits (I've seen them hauling it away) and the grits absorbs the moisture in the ant, causing it to die.

I'll have to keep the mint and cinnamon tricks in mind as well, since they won't harm DS2 or the cat.

Also, if you plant pennyroyal (I think it's a member of the mint family) it's supposed to repel them as well (though it sounds like you'd need a border around your entire house at this point).

 

[Cindyluwho]

The reason both chalk and Comet cleanser keep the ants at bay is because they are both made from D.E. or Diotamceous Earth. (You would NOT believe the crap I learn because I keep chickens!) D.E. is sold in food grade and pool grade, for swimming pool filters. It's in your toothpaste and flour and will not hurt you or your pets. But for insects it is deadly. Any pest company who used natural substances will be using D.E. and Borax to kill pests.
"Diatomite is also used as an insecticide, due to its physico-sorptive properties. The fine powder absorbs lipids from the cuticle, the waxy outer layer of insects' exoskeletons, causing them to dehydrate. Arthropods die as a result of the water pressure deficiency, based on Fick's law of diffusion. This also works against gastropods and is commonly employed in gardening to defeat slugs. However, since slugs inhabit humid environments, efficacy is very low. Beekeepers are apparently experimenting with it, to keep small hive beetles from breeding. It is sometimes mixed with an attractant or other additives to increase its effectiveness. Medical grade diatomite is sometimes used to de-worm both animals and humans. It is most commonly used in lieu of boric acid, and can be used to help control and eventually eliminate a cockroach infestation."

 

[tevagirl]

The reason both chalk and Comet cleanser keep the ants at bay is because they are both made from D.E. or Diotamceous Earth. (You would NOT believe the crap I learn because I keep chickens!) D.E. is sold in food grade and pool grade, for swimming pool filters. It's in your toothpaste and flour and will not hurt you or your pets. But for insects it is deadly. Any pest company who used natural substances will be using D.E. and Borax to kill pests.
"Diatomite is also used as an insecticide, due to its physico-sorptive properties. The fine powder absorbs lipids from the cuticle, the waxy outer layer of insects' exoskeletons, causing them to dehydrate. Arthropods die as a result of the water pressure deficiency, based on Fick's law of diffusion. This also works against gastropods and is commonly employed in gardening to defeat slugs. However, since slugs inhabit humid environments, efficacy is very low. Beekeepers are apparently experimenting with it, to keep small hive beetles from breeding. It is sometimes mixed with an attractant or other additives to increase its effectiveness. Medical grade diatomite is sometimes used to de-worm both animals and humans. It is most commonly used in lieu of boric acid, and can be used to help control and eventually eliminate a cockroach infestation."

Your chickens told you all this stuff?

 

[Cindyluwho]

Your chickens told you all this stuff?

They spend wayyyyy too much time on the internet. Research, research....

 

[ducklite]

Your chickens told you all this stuff?

OMG I think that's the funniest thing I've ever read on the DIS! I'm going to be giggling about taht one all night!

Anne

 

[I'mNoPrince]

They spend wayyyyy too much time on the internet. Research, research....

But the Pecking on the keyboard comes so natural .