Non-odorous ways of killing sugar ants on the spot?

[Stella Maris]

I'm already aware of using borax gel to attract and eradicate colonies of ants, but what about trying to destroy their chemical trails and killing stragglers on the spot?

I have successfully used peppermint/lemonseed oil spray in the past but it leaves such a strong odor in my bedroom it lingers for weeks...definitely cannot do that with my inverts living with me. I could try relocating them to another room in the house if that is my last option.

What about a vinegar+water solution? I've heard it is a useful way for eliminating the sugar ants' chemical trails, but is it safe to use on carpeting and does it leave a strong odor?

 

[JoshDM020]

Itll probably smell like vinegar, but i believe thats harmless to spiders and the like. Im not even sure itd kill an ant unless they're THAT susceptible to acid. I doubt your carpets would ever be as clean as they would if you scrubbed them with vinegar. Youre just gonna wanna air that out for your own noses sake.

 

[WoofSpider]

It's a bit overkill, but if it is carpeting then I would think that renting a steam cleaner would be the most effective at eliminating everything. And as a bonus, you would have clean carpets!

 

[Draketeeth]

We're getting ants really bad this year too. Simple Green isn't odorless, but it's not overly pungent, and it kills most of the ants it lands on when sprayed. Also great for taking care of trails for at least a few days. We have one spot in the house though they keep remaking trails no matter what we do, so persistence has been the key.

Are they going after anything specific? In my kitchen they go after the cat food (the constantly re-made trail), but in my bedroom they were using it as a nursery and the goal wasn't food oriented which made for a much more rambling clean-up. I will forever have nightmares about ants in all the Weird Places.

 

[Trenor]

For black sugar ants, Mom used to use cinnamon to disrupt the scent trails. However, that only works till the make a new trails around the area you sprinkled it in. To me this is not a very good or feasible solution long term.

Ants will always come back till you do one of two things. Remove the stuff that is attracting them (usually easy to get food) so they leave or eradicate the colony.

borax gel

My sister recently had an outbreak and this is what you need to use to fix it. We cut out squares of cardboard and put just a small amount on it. They I laid it right on top of the ant trail. They found it right off and took it home. The next day they were not trailing. About 3 days later they started back up and we did it again. After that we haven't seen an ant for about two weeks.

Using the cardboard makes the leftover gel easy to place and clean up.

Is there a reason why you don't want to use the gel?

 

[Walker253]

Sugar ants are my nemesis and when the set up shop around my tarantulas, I keep the driest needing species near them. Borax dry is candy and wet is like fine wine to them. Thankfully I don't have much of an issue in the basement with my arachnids. Upstairs on the other hand is full on war. I found one nest and wiped it out with cedar oil. Best thing yet.

 

[EulersK]

Sometimes the best solution isn't what you'd expect

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Scotch-B...75035&wl11=online&wl12=21143708&wl13=&veh=sem

 

[TomKemp]

I will say that spiders aren't fans of peppermint. I keep that stuff away from mine. Mix up 50/50 baking soda and sugar in a spray bottle. Shoot the perimeter of whatever room your trying to clean out. The sugar attracts them, The baking soda they eat kills them. It works. Trust me.

 

[TheSanguineSaint]

We had a naaasty problem with carpenter ants and those suckers take chunks out of you! We tried everything and finally order this stuff specifically for the type of ant..They list the species or name and tell you which will work the best. You put it in a clear trap and they take it back to the colony and queen. Within a week we noticed a random straggler who would go to the trap but the hundreds of others were gone. Even with other animals in the house the trap is safe and you put it right where you see them coming in or activity outside. Works so well and now we keep a trap out incase one shows up from another colony. Works great and furry pet safe...price wasn't bad either. Just google the type of ant and what is the best way to kill them you'll find something...when I get home Ill check the brand and let you know. Good luck

 

[TheSanguineSaint]

Sometimes the best solution isn't what you'd expect

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Scotch-B...75035&wl11=online&wl12=21143708&wl13=&veh=sem

hahahahahahahahahahahaha not what I expected

 

[Red Eunice]

This stuff is what I've used for years and works well. Isn't odorless(nor overbearing), once dried (1 hour?), you won't know its been applied. I apply it twice per year on the exterior of my home, heavy around all the doors & windows, once per year inside the same areas.
1 1/3 gallon @$10 in my area. Does what it claims, if you follow the directions, also it doesn't become sticky.
Doesn't bother birds delicate respiratory systems either, if you have them.

 

[Poec54]

I've had carpenter ants come in from the yard and get inside my spider room a couple times, and consume a bin of crickets, they're vicious. Since fire ants have been a problem in Florida for decades, we have a lovely assortment of products available to fight them. I periodically sprinkle some Ortho fire ant bait granules outside around my spider room, and the carpenter ants haven't invaded since then. The stuff doesn't kill on the spot, but they take it back to the nest and it kills the queen within a few days. Interestingly, fire ants have been on the decline in Florida for a few years, not that I'm complaining...

We also have annual invasions of lubber grasshoppers (3-4", with voracious appetites for foliage), and when the sacs hatch out in the spring, I use a spray bottle full of soapy water (5-10%) and it's very effective, kills on the spot.

Having cats and dogs, I don't like to spray toxic chemicals anywhere.