We have been trying to keep the kitchen ants under control this summer, but new batches reappear every couple of weeks. We’ve been relying on the kind of small traps that have an attractant and borax. Last night DH observed the most recent bunch a bit more carefully than I’ve ever had the patience to do, and noticed that they are entering and exiting through the electrical outlet that the toaster and microwave connect to.
Is this something I can deal with myself with more powerful ant poisons, or do I hang it up and call an exterminator? Do I need an electrician too?
We struggled with the little tiny black ants in our old house. Gel traps sold at Home Depot worked better than anything, but we did finally have to call an exterminator. I searched for one that would spray without a contract b/c I just wanted one spray.
Anyway, the gel traps are baited so just make sure pets can’t get to them. They look like half of a bottle of glue kind of. Hard to explain, but our maintenance guy at work showed them to me and they work.
I buy Indoxacarb to deal with indoor ants. If they keep returning I would hire an exterminator to deal with the outside problem Exterminators can locate the outdoor nests and eliminate them.
We had a new phone and internet system installed at work recently (our offices are in a big 1800s farmhouse). There are teeny tiny red ants that have been streaming out of the cover of the new phone/computer lines that run from the ceiling to the floor, in my office and several others. Our maintenance manager says these ants are attracted to the electric vibe of those lines. UGH
If anyone has experience dealing with tiny red ants, let me know!
We use those terro traps. I find that once you open them, they’ll work for whatever current infestation there is but they won’t work for the next group to march thru.
It’s like they dry out quickly. So I tend to break open a new one when i see a stray ant.
Three things can happen that I know.
You have a hole somewhere that lets the ants in and they seek the heat of your lines. (Not too bad–intermittent problem). Seems seasonal.
Or they built a nest somewhere in your wall and you need to spray.
Problem 3 (ours) but slightly different: We had a water leak in our line (underneath the concrete of our floor) and they were coming in through that via bath tub faucet following the water supply. Yuk.
You say you are using borax. We have had great success with Borax. I mix it with jam, the ants swarm to the bait, then they disappear completely for a long time.
Borax and peanut butter, but keep it away from pets!!
Back in my student dorm days, I made “caulk” from mashed boiled potatoes (no additives) and borax, then used it to caulk the cracks around some baseboards. We had not have to deal with bugs or ants! But again, keep any baits from pets!
Thanks for the suggestions. No pets here to worry about (unless you count the ants of course). I just don’t want anything that I might get into our own food and cause problems for us.
Another vote for Terro here. An exterminator told me about it. He said it’s what his company uses. Just cut the end off the rectangle and put it near an ant trail. It will look worse at first, then better as they carry it back to the nest. Don’t remove it too soon: we’ve found it’s best to leave it out for a couple of weeks.
We’ve been relying on the kind of small traps that have an attractant and borax. Last night DH observed the most recent bunch a bit more carefully than I’ve ever had the patience to do, and noticed that they are entering and exiting through the electrical outlet that the toaster and microwave connect to.