MK-2 Posted June 13, 2011 Posted June 13, 2011 We pulled up a few patio slabs a few months back to re-lay them and found a horde of red ants under there. A few kettles of water later and they were all gone. We then noticed some moved further down onto the lawn and had created a mound there which we then boiled too. We laid a strip of turf by the patio as it needed it and all was fine, until yesterday when I mowed the lawn and as I moved over the turf a lot of soil shot up from the side and red ants spewed out again. I've looked into the various baits that will kill the queens etc but has anyone got any recommendations so I'm not constantly fighting them? We have at least two areas of known red ant activity. We also have a cat, so would need to know beforehand if he needs to be kept in, and also tell next door about their cat (who has adopted our garden as her home)
featured_spectre Posted June 13, 2011 Posted June 13, 2011 Do as I did...get some jam, lace it with ant powder, leave a strip of it on your patio for a week, 2 at the most...all ants in the area will die from either getting stuck in the ant powder filled jam, or die from being poisoned by the ant powder when they take it into their hive.
Little-Miss Posted June 13, 2011 Posted June 13, 2011 I HATE red Ants....they make me cry. I have a thing about swarming insects...*shudder* and the red ants thing is from getting covered in them when i was a kid lol!!
MK-2 Posted June 13, 2011 Author Posted June 13, 2011 Do as I did...get some jam, lace it with ant powder, leave a strip of it on your patio for a week, 2 at the most...all ants in the area will die from either getting stuck in the ant powder filled jam, or die from being poisoned by the ant powder when they take it into their hive. but thats the thing, if they die before taking it back to the colony, you dont kill the queen so it starts again. i need something that delays killing them and will allow them time to get back to the colony and feed. i've heard maxforce is meant to be good but can't seem to find a UK supplier. i also assume that our red ants are still classed as fire ants? i've not been stupid enough to put my hand in and see if they do bite/sting but i assume they are of the same variety?
Butters Posted June 13, 2011 Posted June 13, 2011 I'd be half tempted to put a firecracker down the hole. Failing that drop a nade and take cover.
Little-Miss Posted June 13, 2011 Posted June 13, 2011 but thats the thing, if they die before taking it back to the colony, you dont kill the queen so it starts again. i need something that delays killing them and will allow them time to get back to the colony and feed. i've heard maxforce is meant to be good but can't seem to find a UK supplier. i also assume that our red ants are still classed as fire ants? i've not been stupid enough to put my hand in and see if they do bite/sting but i assume they are of the same variety? Our red ants bite! I have images of tiny little sticks of dynamite lol.
X-13 Posted June 13, 2011 Posted June 13, 2011 anyone got any recommendations so I'm not constantly fighting them? RELEASE THE KRAKEN! [ATTACH=CONFIG]10382[/ATTACH] sorry... I'm a bit mad today. 1
MK-2 Posted June 13, 2011 Author Posted June 13, 2011 I'm so glad you all contributed.....you bunch of seriously though as they are on the edge of the patio and also smack bang in our lawn i'll have to try one of the bait ones as i dont fancy powder or sprays.
localzuk Posted June 13, 2011 Posted June 13, 2011 You want to use something like semolina/polenta. They take it back to the queen to eat, and she will eat it, it'll expand and she'll explode. 2
JJonas Posted June 13, 2011 Posted June 13, 2011 I thought most of the ant treatments were designed to kill the nest from the inside. They usually work by killing the grubs. No grubs = no adult workers = not enough food coming back into the nest = queen starves and colony dies
featured_spectre Posted June 13, 2011 Posted June 13, 2011 How to Kill Ants Without Pesticides - wikiHow Some of those are awesome!!
Butters Posted June 13, 2011 Posted June 13, 2011 Befriend the red ants and ask them to kindly move their mounds?
MK-2 Posted June 13, 2011 Author Posted June 13, 2011 You want to use something like semolina/polenta. They take it back to the queen to eat, and she will eat it, it'll expand and she'll explode. i thought i'd read somewhere about semolina and it making them expand. might give that a try
Sirbendy Posted June 13, 2011 Posted June 13, 2011 We got some little dome shaped things containing a liquid...ants had some, went away, never came back. The rice thing, yep..heard that. I quite enjoy using the flame tip on my soldering iron, as it goes..
MK-2 Posted June 13, 2011 Author Posted June 13, 2011 Befriend the red ants and ask them to kindly move their mounds? you know how you can really go off some people........... these are what i'm looking at: http://www.pesthelp.co.uk/img/products/image529.jpg
HaleStorm Posted June 13, 2011 Posted June 13, 2011 i love the idea of turning the ants nest into a vinegar volcano
6Foot2 Posted June 13, 2011 Posted June 13, 2011 (edited) This might seem like a strange question but I will ask it anyway: Do you have access rhubarb plants [specifically their leaves] My parents are plagued with ants [black not red] every year. This year we made a 'soup' out of the discarded leaves [rip the leaves up and drop into a bucket of water for a day or two: Apply the 'soup to the affected area] There is no longer an ant problem. A word to the wise: You will have to be very careful with this stuff and it has a strong smell. The approach from this website is somewhat different: Link: Organic Garden Pest Control ...Aphids: Rhubarb leaves are semi-poisonous to us, and a tea brewed from rhubarb leaves poisons smaller critters, such as aphids, mites, white fly, caterpillars etc. Pour boiling water over crushed rhubarb leaves then leave to soak for several days. Strain, add a good squirt of detergent and dilute enough so that it looks like weak tea and spray over pest infested plants. Repeat every 10 days or so...... Also wash hands thoruoghly and DON'T let you pets [Cats/Dogs etc] drink it! As with all things poisonous: Handle with care. HTH. Edited June 13, 2011 by 6Foot2 Correct spelling mistake.
Heebeejeebee Posted June 13, 2011 Posted June 13, 2011 You want to use something like semolina/polenta. They take it back to the queen to eat, and she will eat it, it'll expand and she'll explode. I think that's how the Nipon liquid stuff works. I've used it successfully in the past albeit not with red ant but the normal black/brown type. HBJB
AyatollahPies Posted June 13, 2011 Posted June 13, 2011 I had some success with a jar of cheapo artificial sweetener. Make sure it contains Aspartame. It was originally created as an Ant Killer I believe, yet somehow ended up in your cans of Cola, sticks of chewing gum.....
russdev Posted June 13, 2011 Posted June 13, 2011 Something found out about black ants (not sure of red ants) is that they hate talc powder. We had issue with ants and as got cat did not want to put ant powder down. Put talc at doors an around (cats food bowl) after day all clear.. Russ
tumbleweed Posted June 16, 2011 Posted June 16, 2011 ... Just leave it outside, the little critters go in, get stuck, their friends come to help, and so it goes on. Then, boiling water, or just put the lid on. Won't eradicate them all, but will certainly reduce numbers. Have tried this several times over the years, and it's always done the job for me.
witch Posted June 17, 2011 Posted June 17, 2011 Not to derail the thread or anything...but has anyone else noticed how we use the word 'pesky' in written communications but it is never said in normal conversation?
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