Help! I fought the ants... and the ants won.

[Flashpoint]

I have ants in my bedroom. I live on the second story. They are coming in through the window frame where there are tiny cracks between the wall and the window. I have sealed the cracks, but they always seem to find a new way in.

The apt complex sprays insecticide every year, and that is killing a lot of ants on the window sill. Enough that the window sill is black with dead ants, and there are piles of them on my carpet. Every day, I clean up their numerous little corpses (with those Clorox wipes to destroy the pheromone trail), and every day there are more when I get home from work.

I used ant baits in the past, and they worked great. But with the insecticide, I think the ants die before they can get the poison food back to the colony.

I hear most ant infestations are weather related, and we have had a lot of rain lately, so perhaps that is all it is and I just need to wait. It's been a week now though. Last night I was awoken twice by ants crawling on me in bed.

I hate calling the apartment complex on these issues. They have a bunch of mental defectives working for them. Last time I called them because the thermostat was broken, I came home to find most of the ceiling ripped open, and all of my belongings covered in white dust because they were "looking for where the wire was broken" (the thermostat needed to be replaced).


So...

...anybody got any ant fighting insight?

[ken0042]

If you know where the ant hill is, I find a big pot of boiling water does the trick and is 100% biodegradable.

Another option is something the sell at Canadian Tire, Home Depot, et al called a "Weed Annihilator. Basically it's a propane torch with a huge flame for burning weeds. I don't have ants, but I would think a 2 minute blast at the ant hill would be enough to turn a lot of them into crispy critters. Just watch for fire ban conditions before using it.

[troutman]

Aardvarks.

[zukes]

Wipe lemon juice around the window. Then some chili powder or cinnamon. That'll stop 'em.

[Rhettzky]

Originally Posted by ken0042

If you know where the ant hill is, I find a big pot of boiling water does the trick and is 100% biodegradable.

Are you serious? I have major ant problems in my back yard and have tried everything. Powders, foam sprays, raid spray, ant traps, those prongy things you stick in the ant hills, and nothing ever works. Boiling water?? Those little buggers are going to pay this year!!

[SportsJunky]

Hang this up in the backyard.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by ken0042

If you know where the ant hill is, I find a big pot of boiling water does the trick and is 100% biodegradable.

Another option is something the sell at Canadian Tire, Home Depot, et al called a "Weed Annihilator. Basically it's a propane torch with a huge flame for burning weeds. I don't have ants, but I would think a 2 minute blast at the ant hill would be enough to turn a lot of them into crispy critters. Just watch for fire ban conditions before using it.

Didn't someone start a major fire this year by using that weed annihilator on gophers?

[ken0042]

It was something a lot more powerful; the thing he used actually causes an underground explosion and the shock wave is what kills the gophers.

And yes, it was because of that inceident that posted the warning.

[Locke]

Sorry man, it sounds like you should give in and welcome your new insectoid overlords.

[The White Out]

bleh

[Boblobla]

do you have any sugary snacks in your room? if so, get rid of them.

Boiling water does work, but it might take a few tries.

Also, try adding some caulking around your window. When all else fail, you gotta love the caulk...

[dissentowner]

Are you afraid of lizards? If not then go out and get 3-4 day geckos and give them free reign of your apartment. Don't worry, for the most part they stay on the walls but they will come down to get those ants,lol. Like having living decoration on your wall as they are quite pretty. Some hotels in South America have them in the guest rooms and they are mandatory, you can't get a room without them in there but they do a great job eating bugs and they will not crawl on your bed. Of course if you have other pets like cats then they are obviously out.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

Hang this up in the backyard.

Do pet stores typically stock these?

[vanisleflamesfan]

Diatomaceous Earth

Link

Link 2

[RougeUnderoos]

Boiling water does work but you do have to give it a few tries. Ants are pretty clever and all, but not clever enough to clear out after one shower of boiling liquid destroys their home and burns many of their friends and family members to death.

[Lucky boy]

Originally Posted by Rhettzky

Are you serious? I have major ant problems in my back yard and have tried everything. Powders, foam sprays, raid spray, ant traps, those prongy things you stick in the ant hills, and nothing ever works. Boiling water?? Those little buggers are going to pay this year!!

Same here, I have tried everything ... I am at the point where there is a patch in my backyard that I choose not to mow as to not escalate tensions with the ants. Boiling water ... I am taking them out this year

[ken0042]

Keep in mind with the boiling water- try to use a camp stove if at all possible so the water is still bubbling when it hits them. As opposed to carrying a huge pot of boiling water from your kitchen and outside.

[4X4]

I can vouch for the boiling water trick. Get all 4 elements going with good sized pots. Run one out and dump it on them. That'll kill any of them outside and near the top. By the time you run inside and grab the next pot, a bunch more will have come to the top.
4 pots did the trick for me.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Locke

Do pet stores typically stock these?

There is one at the zoo, in the monkey house.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by troutman

There is one at the zoo, in the monkey house.

Possible CP Ninja abduction plot?