Black ant invasion! Help!

[Yardbird]

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.

 

[Cindyluwho]

But the Pecking on the keyboard comes so natural .

As long as they stay away from "those" websites like hotchicks.com!!

 

[Aisling]

I have a bad any problem in my kitchen every spring and summer. I tried everything to get rid of them, but then I found the source of the problem.

My kitchen has a glass sliding door out to the back deck, and under the deck was filled with clinging vines. I went under there and saw the ants using the vine like a roadway walking along from deep in the back yard right through the slats in my deck and into mu kitchen. So I put a plastic bag on my head and went under there and ripped out the vines. I then put 2 canned any fog bombs under there, and I basically demolished their highway. That solved the problem. Now that spring is here, it's time to get back under there to make sure the vines haven't grown back.

 

[bigmerle1966]

Your chickens told you all this stuff?

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

As long as they stay away from "those" websites like hotchicks.com!!

So far so good for us this year. We usually have the little suckers show up the minute it gets nice outside. If they do I'll have to remember the info in this thread. We have had professionals come and spray and that works, until we get a lot of rain.

 

[Cindyluwho]

So I put a plastic bag on my head and went under there and ripped out the vines.

I'd give just about anything to see a pic of that!!! Was it a grocery bag, shopping bag??? What?

 

[DrCavin]

So I put a plastic bag on my head and went under there and ripped out the vines. I then put 2 canned any fog bombs under there, and I basically demolished their highway. That solved the problem. Now that spring is here, it's time to get back under there to make sure the vines haven't grown back.

You must not have read the label, DO NOT PUT PLASTIC over your head

 

[maxiesmom]

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."

I have to ask, what do you do for a living? I almost had to get out my dictionary.

 

[Cindyluwho]

I have to ask, what do you do for a living? I almost had to get out my dictionary.

Well, my hobby is raising show chickens. Yes, I know very well how weird that is!! I have learned so much in the last 8 years with my birds. Did you know that using a Sonicare toothbrush on their legs and feet will get them beautifully clean before a show? Always use your husbands toothbrush head, though, never use your own And yes, chickens do love their baths the night before the show. Who would have thought???
What I do for a living is I'm the owner of a Real Estate company in Seattle. John L. Scott Westwood. It's lots of fun but way more boring than my chickens....