A solution to defeating ants?

[tinstartrvlr]

I may have discovered something here so I wanted to share. If it is already common knowledge, I apologize.
I noticed ants crawling around and discovered they were walking up the water hose and making their way inside. I had used a popular "home defense" spray two weeks prior, and in spite of no rain, it apparently quit working, even though it "kills on contact and lasts up to 12 months". I sprayed again, and being as I needed something to do anyway while I enjoyed an adult beverage, I watched their activity. The spray did not faze them. Apparently it does not kill on contact. Didn't even seem to upset them. So for fun, I got out the gorilla tape and placed a piece around the hose, sticky side up, figuring in a few minutes I would have a pile of ants stuck to the tape. What I saw was that the ants refused to cross the tape. They stopped, fidgeted around, and then turned back. Not one, in 30 minutes of watching, would cross that tape. Maybe, just maybe, it could be a simple solution to an aggravating problem, at least in places the duct tape can be used.

[VoodooMedicineM]

I'm a Terro fan

[myredracer]

Pogoil wrote:
Borax roach powder will get rid of any ant problem. Under $3 dollars Walmart.
Pogoil.

Borax works well. The ants take it back to the nest and voila, the whole nest is gone... The thing with many ant poisons and kill methods is that you are only killing individual ants on contact that are away from the nest. We have used a tin can flattened on the end so that only ants can get to the Borax. Here is one description on how to use it. Wikihow Your method of choice will depend on if staying just a day or two or a longer period.

We stayed at an RV park in Bakersfield last summer. Ants are a problem there and they sell you Comet when you sign in to spread around tires, pedestals, steps and anything else in contact with the ground. Fearing an Alfred Hitchcock type invasion, not a single ant showed up overnight. Maybe they just know that place is a no-go, lol.

[DiskDoctr]

naturist wrote:
Even though @rockhillmanor recommended sprinkling Sevin all around your rig, please avoid doing that. It's like using nuclear bombs to celebrate Independence Day. Firecrackers are a much better choice. In this case, because Sevin is toxic to cats, dogs, kids, and earthworms, even scouring powder is a better choice, because it only lasts a few days, whereas a place doused with Sevin remains toxic much longer. Please use the least destructive treatment that works for you instead of going nuclear at the first sign of trouble.

We don't have pets but have a lot of clay in the soil. We've battled ants for years.

What is this "Nuclear Strength" stuff of which you speak?

I'd prefer something that makes them disintegrate when they make contact. Perhaps even make a rewarding SNAP sound 😉

If I thought I could get enough propane down those holes, I'd try this: Rodent Blaster

[Redterpos3]

Smart little buggers...:)

[free_radical]

Get a big radio and crank it on until it ratless the walls,,guarantee all ants and if there any other bugs,creepy crawlers will vacate the premises in a hurry..
Bugs dont like vibrations

Also the stuff that replaced sugar people put in their coffe kills ants,,just sprinkle where they walk

[Pogoil]

Borax roach powder will get rid of any ant problem. Under $3 dollars Walmart.

Pogoil.

[skrams]

Or just sprinkle ground cinnamon around, they hate that, and it's not toxic.

[sdianel_-acct_c]

another thing is to make sure you put food in plastic storage bags or bins and keep crumbs swept or vacuumed. The little critters are looking for food!

[DiskDoctr]

Isn't Seven Dust recommended to apply directly to tomato plants and fruit trees?

[NYCgrrl]

Good to know that tape has one more use as we procrastinate doing the odious job of closing up the cracks:c.

[rockhillmanor]

The Sevin DUST is not toxic.
The Sevin GRANULES is toxic to pets.

...sprinkling Sevin all around your rig,...

You do NOT spread it ALL around your coach.
Spread a ring around your tires, hose, electrical cord.

[naturist]

Even though @rockhillmanor recommended sprinkling Sevin all around your rig, please avoid doing that. It's like using nuclear bombs to celebrate Independence Day. Firecrackers are a much better choice. In this case, because Sevin is toxic to cats, dogs, kids, and earthworms, even scouring powder is a better choice, because it only lasts a few days, whereas a place doused with Sevin remains toxic much longer. Please use the least destructive treatment that works for you instead of going nuclear at the first sign of trouble.

[rockhillmanor]

If they are already in your coach yes it can take up to 10 days to get rid of them with the ant baits. But it does work eventually then be pro active.

[naturist]

Thanks for the tip. I like it a lot.

Here's another for you: My rig acquired an infestation of Argentine ants, those really tiny black ones, a couple years ago when I was out west. Those little monsters will set up a colony anywhere, and evidently they found a good spot somewhere inside my rig, so they followed me home.

I put out ant baits everywhere. Used ant spray too. No effect. Those buggers are tough.

When I got home, I sprinkled food-grade diatomaceous earth in the basement, the pass-through, removed the cover over the water heater bypass and sprinkled it all over there, too. Threw a handful in through the access hatch to the shower drain. Ants are now gone.

Diatomaceous earth is completely non-toxic and harmless for humans, kids, dogs, cats, birds, but kills ants and other insects. It is also pretty cheap. It did render my pass-through kind of dusty, but I'd prefer dust to ants, so I just left it there.

It lasts forever provided it does not get wet, when it just turns to mud, and ants are then safe. I've seen people sprinkle Comet/Ajax and other scouring powders around their tires and jacks to keep bugs out of the camper, which I would not do because that stuff is toxic and not environmentally friendly. I keep a quart jar of the diatomaceous earth on the camper for that purpose, and it is much safer.