Ants!

[meat01]

I have quite the ant problem in my backyard and I can't use ant poison, because I have a dog. I have tried cinnamon, pepper, corn starch, flooding their holes with the hose and they just keep coming back in force. They are little red ants and there is a huge colony.

I can't find any holes outside of my yard, or else I would poison their holes. I can see where they are coming through the gate, but the cinnamon didn't help as a barrier.

I realize I have to get rid of the queen, but so far I have not had any luck.

Any decent suggestions?

 

[Cousin Patty]

Use the poison. Keep the dog elsewhere/inside until the ants are gone. Put the dog back outside.

 

[choomanchoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cousin Patty /img/forum/go_quote.gif Use the poison. Keep the dog elsewhere/inside until the ants are gone. Put the dog back outside.

X2 true dat!

or you can buy an anteater

 

[3x331m]

Quote:

Originally Posted by meat01 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I have quite the ant problem in my backyard and I can't use ant poison, because I have a dog.

I found Ant Baits pretty effective and safe for pets. It would get the entire colony.

Edit: The workers would bring the bait back to feed the queen and others.

BTW, I used the bait disks. Those are enclosed in a plastic disk with tiny openings, large enough for ants, but not exposed to other larger pets. I bought them at Home Depot. I forgot what they call them, but I think it was called something like "Ant station".

 

[Morph201]

Umm... try Orkin!

 

[velogreg]

We had an ant problem but used the bait disks and they worked great. Takes a week though to finish off the colony. Otherwise for a longer lasting solution I reco the garden store sprays or poison/fertilizer combos and keep the pets off the lawn for a week.

 

[Homeless]

I used the plastic bait traps and they worked. I also dumped boiling water on them and that killed them as well...

 

[meat01]

Quote:

I also dumped boiling water on them and that killed them as well...

While this or a blow torch is fun, I found it only to be a temporary solution. I will give the baits a try.

 

[Superpredator]

Yesterday after I got out of the shower I came back to my bedroom to find sugar ants crawling in through the (closed) window and all over the foot of my bed. It looks like I missed them making it to my crotchal area by about six minutes. Being already late for work, I went for the chili powder. I applied it liberally all over the sill. It provided a decent barrier, but I'm still seeing some.

Most insects disgust me, but obliterating these cute little ants isn't mission critical. I'll save it for the weekend, although after reading up on permethrin I'm not sure I'd like to do anything more than create a chemical barrier outside the window. No need to go killing more honey bees than are already dying.

Ah, here we go: http://www.grinningplanet.com/2004/0...er-article.htm

 

[3x331m]

Quote:

Originally Posted by meat01 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I will give the baits a try.

Be patient.... It takes a few days.

 

[ken36]

IMO, this is not a DIY project.

 

[3x331m]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken36 /img/forum/go_quote.gif IMO, this is not a DIY project.

What level of complexity that you have in mind ?