Help! ANTS!!!!

[darkness975]

Terro and diatomaceous earth @MrsHaas

 

[The Snark]

Alright, ladies and gents, let's take a look at bleach and what it is and how it is toxic.

The heck with those gigantic chlorine molecules that can't wet a decent sponge.

Ant Solution! The correct dilution of benzalkonium chloride, sprayed all over but especially as near the nest as you can get. BKC destroys olfactory receptors, along with being a very powerful anti bacterial agent and fungicide. (Commonly used in the packaging material of food products preserving well into the next century.). Gives you a few zillion completely blind very clean ants. Downside is it also kills your sense of smell. Vapor filter respirator required.
See @HooahArmy for details. (Hey guy, talk about itty bitty tiny molecular structure. BKC travels through a .5 micron ceramic filter like it was cheese cloth. Also finds it's way into FRP like your bathtub where chlorine just bounces off.)

No, the nuclear option is giving the kids a propane torch and sending them out in the yard to hunt ants.

@HooahArmy Which is preferable household use wise, has higher sterilization efficacy and lower environmental toxicity: sodium hypochlorite or sodium dichloroisocyanurate?


PS End all be all ant repellent.
1. Procure a liter or two of methyl mercaptan.
2. Apply liberally throughout your home and yard.
3. Ignore the complaints from the neighbors and perfect your innocent blank stare look when the FD, police and health department come visiting.

 

[HooahArmy]

Which is preferable household use wise, has higher sterilization efficacy and lower environmental toxicity: sodium hypochlorite or sodium dichloroisocyanurate?

I have heard the clarion call!

To be honest, both of the fellows Sodium Hypochlorite (SH) and Sodium Dichloroisocyanurate (SD) are pretty gnarly, so marketed concentration is key.
They both sterilize in similar manners and are toxic to the environment, you, and wildlife; by being irritants to the mucous membranes, skin, and other body parts, primarily by ingestion or contact.
However, with SH, this guy tends to hit a lot harder due to the concentrations that are usually available on the market. Being the primary ingredient in bleach, its a doozy. SD on the other hand, can be harder to find (depending on where you are) but is the active ingredient in industrial deodorizers, disinfectants, pool cleaner, and water purifiers.SD will come in a number of concentrations, ranging from those which will scour your brains out, to those that are safe enough to prepare emergency water. Unlike SH which always comes strong, SD's numerous variations make it safer, more controllable, and just as effective as SH in sterilization. Both however will be marketed with similar 'use in well-ventilated areas', 'skin contact warning', and 'ingestion warning' labels, so if you're using SD in particular, keep a wary eye on the concentration along with you or your pals if you decide to use it in a living space.

 

[The Snark]

@HooahArmy You would have a field day over here. The chemical industry is pretty much buyer beware with very few regulations and restrictions. For example, 90% HNO3, sold in 50 kg carbouys without any warning labels, same same H2SO4. Yes, we bought a 144 roll case of toilet paper and had a few parties. Fortunately my buddy was in the restaurant business and had several large refigerators we could keep the chemicals in.
Or BKC, 5 KG bottles, 10% concentration. No warning at all.
Had a massive clump of bamboo the neighbors were trying to get rid of by burning it day after day. I told them give me $50 and I'll have it gone in a week. 200 kg 80 some percent H2SO4 poured over the mass and cellulose be cellulose. Bye bye.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

@HooahArmy You would have a field day over here. The chemical industry is pretty much buyer beware with very few regulations and restrictions. For example, 90% HNO3, sold in 50 kg carbouys without any warning labels, same same H2SO4. Yes, we bought a 144 roll case of toilet paper and had a few parties. Fortunately my buddy was in the restaurant business and had several large refigerators we could keep the chemicals in.
Or BKC, 5 KG bottles, 10% concentration. No warning at all.
Had a massive clump of bamboo the neighbors were trying to get rid of by burning it day after day. I told them give me $50 and I'll have it gone in a week. 200 kg 80 some percent H2SO4 poured over the mass and cellulose be cellulose. Bye bye.

You melted the bamboo? Woah !! This chemical/ stuff is so complex.

 

[SpookySpooder]

that reaction is high school chemistry dude, pay attention in class. -__-

He could melt a lot more than plants with those chemicals

 

[The Snark]

You melted the bamboo? Woah !! This chemical/ stuff is so complex.

that reaction is high school chemistry dude,

Pyrolysis, hydrolysis and saponification oh my! One of the first experiments in chem lab class; turning a chunk of wood into a bar of soap.
The good old daze in the chem labs. And then working as a 'lab rat' in the crypt, the sub basement which some called Spook Hollow of BioSci at Cal Tech with the emergency showers and eye wash stations every few feet along the hallways. The coke bottle thick glasses mega nerds down the hall experimenting with Cesium, Polonium and the ever popular Plutonium (only twenty four thousand and change half life years) and similar goodies. Various safety, warning and danger signs, the wall paper of choice. Fond memories.

 

[MrsHaas]

What kind of ants are we talking about here? I’m not sure how anyone can provide advice on the topic without knowing that one basic piece of info. Most ants found in or around the home are scavengers and have more interest in what is inside a tarantula’s enclosure than the tarantulas themselves.

just regular black ants I guess…? I live in California if that help ID them.

And, yes, I’m still fighting them. Thought they were gone for good until sadly my AF P. fasciata passed away from old age (the person I got her from said she was like 10, which could just be a ballpark, but we also had her for a great number of years). Either way, it’s a sad species to lose. But the ants did come out again and I guess my olfactory pallet has dulled, because almost every few days I will go around to each cage and try and smell it and see if there’s any mold or if any dead crickets are stinking up the joint. But my husband said her enclosure was smelling like “death” and I was adamant that I smelled nothing. We all adjust to our jobs once we do them for some time I guess… Once her enclosure was removed we saw little to no ants left behind at least. Still, such a tragedy!
Now this is REALLY war!

 

[Tim Benzedrine]

View attachment 448875

I used these recently, and am impressed. But it took more than a couple of weeks. And for a while there were a few stragglers, but I haven't seen one lately. None were in the vicinity of the room where I keep the spiders, or at least I never spotted any.

I was on my porch and noticed a rank and file of of them and even they have disappeared So I suggest giving them a little more time.

Also, did you say "Bare with me?" Well, if you insist...

 

[8 legged]

If it's your house, I recommend investing in an expert. Everything else is only half the battle...

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

The heck with those gigantic chlorine molecules that can't wet a decent sponge.

Ant Solution! The correct dilution of benzalkonium chloride, sprayed all over but especially as near the nest as you can get. BKC destroys olfactory receptors, along with being a very powerful anti bacterial agent and fungicide. (Commonly used in the packaging material of food products preserving well into the next century.). Gives you a few zillion completely blind very clean ants. Downside is it also kills your sense of smell. Vapor filter respirator required.
See @HooahArmy for details. (Hey guy, talk about itty bitty tiny molecular structure. BKC travels through a .5 micron ceramic filter like it was cheese cloth. Also finds it's way into FRP like your bathtub where chlorine just bounces off.)

No, the nuclear option is giving the kids a propane torch and sending them out in the yard to hunt ants.

@HooahArmy Which is preferable household use wise, has higher sterilization efficacy and lower environmental toxicity: sodium hypochlorite or sodium dichloroisocyanurate?


PS End all be all ant repellent.
1. Procure a liter or two of methyl mercaptan.
2. Apply liberally throughout your home and yard.
3. Ignore the complaints from the neighbors and perfect your innocent blank stare look when the FD, police and health department come visiting.

Our ant nests are under the porch there’s no way to spray or get rid of them
And ripping down the porch is a nogo . They don’t attack my Ts but have went after my drinks and orange roaches .

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

I used these recently, and am impressed. But it took more than a couple of weeks. And for a while there were a few stragglers, but I haven't seen one lately. None were in the vicinity of the room where I keep the spiders, or at least I never spotted any.

I was on my porch and noticed a rank and file of of them and even they have disappeared So I suggest giving them a little more time.

Also, did you say "Bare with me?" Well, if you insist...

ants are invading my spot I place my coffee !! Even if I empty the area ants still remain. Darn coffee addicted ants !!

 

[The Snark]

@Ultum4Spiderz
As in the song, 'Welcome to my nightmare'. I place my coffee cup beside me until they find it. Then move it to the book case on my other side. Then to the second computer desk. Then hoping they have been diverted long enough, back to the original location. During major invasion season i'll use a chair and empty computer case as a fourth and fifth alternative. Stop the ants? No chance. Musical ant treats the only way I've found with over 20 years of experimentation.

A long thin twist of tissue paper deftly dipped in your drink is the ant removal method of choice. Ultra hygroscopic and the ants are forced to come along for the ride.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

@Ultum4Spiderz
As in the song, 'Welcome to my nightmare'. I place my coffee cup beside me until they find it. Then move it to the book case on my other side. Then to the second computer desk. Then hoping they have been diverted long enough, back to the original location. During major invasion season i'll use a chair and empty computer case as a fourth and fifth alternative. Stop the ants? No chance. Musical ant treats the only way I've found with over 20 years of experimentation.

A long thin twist of tissue paper deftly dipped in your drink is the ant removal method of choice. Ultra hygroscopic and the ants are forced to come along for the ride.

I started using a subwoofer as a drink stand.

 

[The Snark]

I started using a subwoofer as a drink stand.

So how long till they find it? Around here it's about 48 hours.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

So how long till they find it? Around here it's about 48 hours.

Not long I just go back and forth, most of the time they are too lazy to climb the sub. But if you leave something sticky laying anywhere too long they find it. I swear these ants just live on tv trays stands. They went after applesauce cup in 20 minutes. Maybe they don’t like vibrations caused by bass wave or climbing on two subs. Makes no sense … I can leave a drink there all day ants only find it when I shut the system off.

 

[The Snark]

@Ultum4Spiderz Just enjoy the ants you got and be happy you don't have the tropics variety. Right now I just showered off the invisible clown squad. You can feel the tickle but they are next to invisible they are so small. Then the slightly larger, ~1mm red ones that pack a nice dose of ouch that stings for about 5-10 minutes. And another 10-20 or so species topping out at one that rivals bullet ant bites, - makes your eyes water.

 

[fcat]

Dish soap kills them basically on contact. It suffocates them. Doesn't matter what brand, or type, so go biodegradable if you can, like Dawn. I have had poor results with the real granola stuff. Mixed with Windex and it worked on contact.

You have to destroy their scent trails. I can't say the soap does this, because I flood my floors, generously apply so it splashes and gets in nooks and crannies, flood their nest (I'd rather have a little water damage than ants). But a good clean always seems to help.

It is non-toxic to my cats but it is a pain to rinse thoroughly, fyi. That's good when it's outside, when it rains a little it gets reactivated.

Spot treat when you find a live trail - add water and then clean - mass destruction - rinse - rinse - rinse...

 

[Lots Of Legs Thailand]

Hey Under all our racks we put these plastic contraptions full of water (any strong plastic cup will do the trick), ants cannot get to the racks because of the water under each foot of the rack. This way you don't have to use anything toxic and if the ants cannot get to them they loose interest.

 

[MrsHaas]

Also, did you say "Bear with me?" Well, if you insist...

I meant to say “BARE” -gotta love the auto correct! Lol
@Tim Benzedrine WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT YOU THE OTHER DAY!!!!
How have you been? It’s been forever since we’ve spoken!
Good to know you’re still around! <3

Send me a message/convo!

If it's your house, I recommend investing in an expert. Everything else is only half the battle...

…but will an exterminator end up harming the spiders potentially??