carpenter ants
anyone ever have an issue with carpenter ants. We have an infestation of them. waiting for a reply from exterminator. They are no common to south Florida. Must have picked them up on trip north.
Forum Discussion
JoeTampa wrote:rgatijnet1 wrote:
Go to the drug store and pick up a bottle of boric acid. Mix it in boiling water with as much sugar as you can dissolve to create a thick syrup. Spread this syrup around where ANY ants are and let it sit for a few days. The ants take it back to their nests and in a short time they are all dead. This does not smell and is basically non-poisonous but I would not let any pets lick it up as it could cause some discomfort. This works on any type of ants.
Anyone have an exact recipe that has worked for them? How much water, how much boric acid, how much sugar, etc?
At least equal parts water and sugar, by volume. You may be able to get more sugar to dissolve than that, if you are patient.
Use 1 teaspoon of boric acid per cup of water. If you use too much, the ants may not eat the bait, or the boric acid will kill them immediately and they won't take it back to the nest.
Some people soak cotton balls in this mixture to use it, which keeps it from running everywhere. And obviously you have to replace it when washed away by rain.
You may see MORE ants for a couple of weeks, and you need to keep using the bait for at least a couple of weeks after you don't see any.
I got these recommendations from the UT Agricultural Extension web site, a few years ago. Don't know if the info is still on there or not.
