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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsAnt trails in the house
I have little ants on the sink again this year. I heard the ants create scent trails as they move along. The last few years, I've tried to avoid killing insects, because I hear that the Earth is losing biodiversity and I figure every critter is part of that. I didn't care so much that they were on the sink, because I stored food elsewhere. After tolerating ants for 2 years, the little so and sos have gotten to the stove. I'm not sure if they found a circuitous route or if I'm transferring them if I move pans or dishcloths from one surface to another. I've been trying to disrupt or destroy their scent trails, but it's a battle.
As I plot to outwit the ants, I have to wonder, how do they lay the trails? They are walking the equivalent of miles from their nest to my sink to the counters. The stove had to be like space travel to another planet. If the ants have found a way to breach space, are they seriously leaving trails across the counter, down the wall and up the stove? Is each any just a mobile pheromones factory? Is that all they do: search for food, make pheromones and die? Do they bother going back to the nest? Or do they just wander around leaving their mark with every one of their six stupid little feet? I guess more research is necessary, but maybe if I spent less time researching and more time keeping the kitchen clean, I wouldn't have this many ants.
I am in the process of cleaning my stove sides, maybe the wall behind. I accidentally discovered that they don't like Wright's Silver Polish. so after I clean out the sink, I'm wiping the surfaces with that. Happy Earth Day :/
Mr.Bill
(24,318 posts)Gidney N Cloyd
(19,847 posts)Marthe48
(17,015 posts)ammonia, cleanser, baking soda, dish soap and bleach over the last few years. Nothing really worked. I looked for borax, but couldn't find any at the time. They weren't so bad last year, or this year, except they are on the stove and I don't want them there.
I wiped the sink and backsplash with the silver polish and they are gone for now.
Thanks for all of the tips and ideas.
MOMFUDSKI
(5,633 posts)Read the directions.
underpants
(182,876 posts)I guess we werent very good at keeping the honey we got this weekend clean
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10181998847
beaglelover
(3,488 posts)a solution with something in it and told us to put a little bit on the counters in the areas where the ants were. They were totally gone about 2 days later never to return. Can't remember what the solution was but you can buy it at the store.
Sogo
(4,992 posts)Please....
MiHale
(9,775 posts)During the spring I have a small ant problem. Its actually a small problem with very tiny ants. I use an organic mix to rid the little dears.
A one to one mixture of Borax and Diatomaceous Earth. Sprinkle on the trails. Diatomaceous earth literally gets under their skin and shreds them from the inside. I cant remember why we add the Borax but it works.
https://www.orkin.com/ask-orkin/diatomaceous-earth-pest-control#
ProfessorGAC
(65,160 posts)Toxicity for mammals is very low. Around 2g per kg of body weight. That's a lot. A 20# dog would need to consume 18g, and that would be a big pile of H3BO3. About a tenth of a gram along the backsplash is pretty much enough.
It's toxic to ants & also disrupts metabolism at the larva stage, meaning far fewer eggs hatch.
Our pets wouldn't bother stuff on the counter anyway. So, we've used it a few times in our 38 years in this house.
ailsagirl
(22,899 posts)Seven weeks!! I had the guy come in six times-- wasn't cheap but I think they're gone now. I've lived in my place for ~17 years and never saw one. Go figure.
Good luck!!