Ants and other infestations

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Rose65

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Location
United Kingdom
I beat an ant infestation recently by totally natural means. I had ordered poison, Nipon, but it was delayed by Amazon. Ants were increasing daily in my kitchen.
So, I set about tightly boxing up and securing every possible foodsource. I cleaned every surface. My work and time paid off as I saw them making daily orderly raids into every cupboard but by the time the poison arrived, they had given up! I actually love ants, they are fascinating clever creatures and I am glad I didn't have to kill them.

Now I have woodlice in the porch. So I spray flykiller into each corner, mop with disinfectant and ensure to air it out daily.

So how do you deal naturally or if necessary with chemicals such infestations?
 

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We haven't had inside ants for a while not that I think of it. When we did we put at trap out. I keep honey and other sugar inside other containers since a drip will call the ants.
Outside, fire ants are common here. You put bait that they carry back and it kills the queen. I think the ants move on.
 
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I get them every spring without fail. I expect them. :rolleyes: Little ones, carpenter ants, and sometimes little itty bitty tiny ones the size of a pin head! I've tried natural deterrents like peppermint and tea tree oils, bay leaves, black pepper, etc., to no avail. Now I use ant bait. I make sure my counters and entire kitchen are clean. Then strategically set out ant baits, except I remove the poison from the trap. I started doing that a few years ago because the little buggers would go all 🐜🐜around the traps 🐜🐜but not in them! When I see the scouts, I scoop them onto the bait and leave them be. They eat their fill and then go home to call their little friends, "Come and get it!" They come, congregate on the bait, and I leave them alone. In a few days, they'll be gone.

As for the carpenter ants, they're not interested in food, and they don't eat the ant bait. They're looking for wet wood, but they aren't going to find any in my house. So, I just kill the ones I see. What also works to keep them both at bay is food-grade diatomaceous earth all around the perimeter of my house and in and around my gardens. It's safe for domestic animals or wildlife. Consuming it won't harm them. However, it's deadly to any insect with an exoskeleton. I have to reapply it from time to time, especially after it rains. Sometimes, if I'm lucky, I'll find a nest. Then I sock it to 'em with the diatomaceous earth.

Those fascinating clever little creatures can be as fascinating and clever as they want... outside of my house!mr47_04
 

Rose65 said:
I beat an ant infestation recently by totally natural means. I had ordered poison, Nipon, but it was delayed by Amazon. Ants were increasing daily in my kitchen.
So, I set about tightly boxing up and securing every possible foodsource. I cleaned every surface. My work and time paid off as I saw them making daily orderly raids into every cupboard but by the time the poison arrived, they had given up! I actually love ants, they are fascinating clever creatures and I am glad I didn't have to kill them.

Now I have woodlice in the porch. So I spray flykiller into each corner, mop with disinfectant and ensure to air it out daily.

So how do you deal naturally or if necessary with chemicals such infestations?
Click to expand...
Ants won't walk across baby powder and they don't like rugs. When I put food out for the stray cats, I set the dishes on places where I sprinkled a layer of baby powder.

Most bugs don't like walking on diatomaceous soil, which you can buy by the bag.
 
If you put a bird-feeder near where the wood lice are, the birds will eat the wood lice.

See if you can find what the wood lice are eating, and get rid of it. It will be something organic, like bits of fruit or the skins from an orange or banana or something.
 
I had a major invasion of tiny little “sugar ants” several years ago. I tried the bait traps, which they ignored. As the ants increased in number, I grew desperate and called a brand-name pest control company, who refused to treat my home unless I signed a one-year contract. This was good for the exterminators, but bad for my wallet. I refused to renew the contract after the year was up.

From observations of the exterminators, I did learn what outside areas and parts of the house they sprayed, which has helped me control the ants since. In addition to store-bought pesticides, ants also hate vinegar, citrus juices, and Tabasco sauce…
 
Rose65 said:
I beat an ant infestation recently by totally natural means. I had ordered poison, Nipon, but it was delayed by Amazon. Ants were increasing daily in my kitchen.
So, I set about tightly boxing up and securing every possible foodsource. I cleaned every surface. My work and time paid off as I saw them making daily orderly raids into every cupboard but by the time the poison arrived, they had given up! I actually love ants, they are fascinating clever creatures and I am glad I didn't have to kill them.

Now I have woodlice in the porch. So I spray flykiller into each corner, mop with disinfectant and ensure to air it out daily.

So how do you deal naturally or if necessary with chemicals such infestations?
Click to expand...
You are better at it than I. Sealing food containers help with the ants, but don't seem to cure the problem for me. I spray sometimes, maybe not often enough. Still don't have a good way to get rid of all the flies, spray helps but I hate spraying in the kitchen.

My favorite ant infestation story:

 
I locate the general vicinity along the foundation from where they are getting in and put out a couple of Terro liquid ant bait tubes which I pick up at the local hardware store. In a couple of days, no more ants.
 
Also, A basil plant in the kitchen seems to keep bugs away. In the south we have Palmetto bugs (which is a nice name for big roaches.) Hate them with a passion.
 
ElCastor said:
I locate the general vicinity along the foundation from where they are getting in and put out a couple of Terro liquid ant bait tubes which I pick up at the local hardware store. In a couple of days, no more ants.
Click to expand...
Terro is the shiznit for ants that like sweets.
 
Rose65 said:
I beat an ant infestation recently by totally natural means. I had ordered poison, Nipon, but it was delayed by Amazon. Ants were increasing daily in my kitchen.
So, I set about tightly boxing up and securing every possible foodsource. I cleaned every surface. My work and time paid off as I saw them making daily orderly raids into every cupboard but by the time the poison arrived, they had given up! I actually love ants, they are fascinating clever creatures and I am glad I didn't have to kill them.

Now I have woodlice in the porch. So I spray flykiller into each corner, mop with disinfectant and ensure to air it out daily.

So how do you deal naturally or if necessary with chemicals such infestations?
Click to expand...
A very very light almost invisable to the eye dusting of boric acid ...ant and roach killer at any hardware store very light is the secret otherwise they will avoid it....
 
I don't use poisons. I had a lot of ants in that house I owned when it rained. I'd usually just wipe them up. It only really bothered me when they got into the cat food.
 
Mixing sugar with borax powder & putting it down works especially when you find their mound. I'm like natural as much as possible, but sometimes you have to use something else.

Amdro ant block granules sprinkled around the foundation of the house works well for us. It works for quite a while & only needs to be put back down if they rain washes it away. We ususally only get them in the spring & when it gets dry in late summer.
 

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