andy@altos86.UUCP (Andy Hatcher) (11/25/85)
*** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR MESSAGE *** Some time ago I remember seeing an article about controlling the little black ants that hang around kitchens, without using nasty chemicals. (We have a 9 month old, who is just starting to get into everything). I need someone who either has the article, or remembers the method to please send me some mail about it. Thanks, Andy Hatcher Altos Computer Systems ucbvax!dual!vecpyr!altos86!andy
ibyf@ihlpa.UUCP (Scott) (11/28/85)
> Some time ago I remember seeing an article about controlling > the little black ants that hang around kitchens, without > using nasty chemicals. (We have a 9 month old, who is just > starting to get into everything). > > I need someone who either has the article, or remembers the > method to please send me some mail about it. > Thanks, > Andy Hatcher Try using Uncles!!
rcook@uiucuxc.CSO.UIUC.EDU (11/30/85)
My father is a commercial Exterminator, and he takes care of this problem constantly. I would suggest calling one because the "stuff" your going to buy in a hardware store (or whereever) just isn't going to work. I would suggest the following advice. Call a SMALL (I emphasize small) Pest Control company and explain your situation. Tell them you have a small child and don't want any harmful chemicals around. (none of the chemicals my father uses is toxic except for the chemical he uses for termites, which is probed into the foundation) I have to warn you against a BIG Pest Control CORPORATION, because they often seem to be more careless with their work. (why shouldn't they, they're after the money, and can afford to lose the few customers that get bad service. or I should say the few customers that REALIZE they are getting bad service. If you are stead-fast(sp??) against calling an exterminator, I would have to say you're just going to have to wait it out. Ants are one of those seasonal pests, and will usually go away after it gets a little cooler (asuming it gets cool where you are.) Rob Cook UUCP: {ihnp4,pur-ee}!uiucdcs!uiucuxc!rcook 'Life is just a cocktail party on the street' -Mick Jagger-
pmd@cbsck.UUCP (Paul M. Dubuc) (12/02/85)
I tried to mail this to the person who originally posted the article, but it bounced. Seeing as it may also be of interest to others with the same problem, I'll post it: We had a problem with black ants in our kitchen a couple of years ago. We tried spraying in the kitchen but had a hard time getting rid of them until one evening I noticed a trail of them coming from their nest (a hole in the ground) in our back yard and up the back wall of our kitchen. I sprayed a good dose of Raid Ant and Roach Killer all along that path, and we haven't had a problem since. So I think the trick is to find where they are getting into your house. Good luck, -- Paul Dubuc cbsck!pmd \/-\ /\-/
kpk@gitpyr.UUCP (Kevin P. Kleinfelter) (12/02/85)
A few years ago in The Mother Earth News, someone detailed a method for getting rid of ants without pesticides. I do not recall the article, but the magazine is available on microfiche, so your local library should have the back issues. I think the author used an aromatic substance such as cinamon powder. The basis of his reasoning was that the ants used a sense of smell to determine where they wanted to go and that an aromatic substance would confuse them. Disclaimer: I have not used this method, the magazine may or may not be worthwhile, etc. There is one bright spot...if the method fails, at least your house will smell nice! (:-) Disclaimer of responsibility: I am irresponsible.
plw@drutx.UUCP (KerrPL) (12/02/85)
I don't know if this has been posted before or not, but.....I know it works. The next time you peel a potatoe, take some of the thinnest peeling and dry it out completely. Put this in the spot the ants are coming from. They will not enter where the peelings are at. My parents had a problem of ant after they built on to their house and was told of this. It is amazing to see the ants leave. Patti Kerr ihnp4!drutx!plw
essachs@ihuxl.UUCP (Ed Sachs) (12/02/85)
I've found that the best way to keep ants out of the house is to spray OUTSIDE the house (ants live in the ground and are coming in and out all the time) with insecticide (I hope you don't object to using it outdoors). If I can, I try to look around the foundation to see where they are coming in, and just spray there (often at the opposite end of the house from the kitchen, where you see them indoors). Failing that, just spray around the entire foundation (I usually have to do this 2-3 times each summer, but within a day after doing so, the ants are all gone for several weeks, at least). -- Ed Sachs AT&T Bell Laboratories Naperville, IL ihnp4!ihuxl!essachs
rs55611@ihuxk.UUCP (Robert E. Schleicher) (12/02/85)
> > My father is a commercial Exterminator, and he takes care of this problem > constantly. I would suggest calling one because the "stuff" your going > to buy in a hardware store (or whereever) just isn't going to work. > > I would suggest the following advice. > > Call a SMALL (I emphasize small) Pest Control company and explain your > situation. Tell them you have a small child and don't want any harmful > chemicals around. (none of the chemicals my father uses is toxic except > for the chemical he uses for termites, which is probed into the > foundation) > > I have to warn you against a BIG Pest Control CORPORATION, because they > often seem to be more careless with their work. (why shouldn't they, > they're after the money, and can afford to lose the few customers that > get bad service. or I should say the few customers that REALIZE they are > getting bad service. > > If you are stead-fast(sp??) against calling an exterminator, I would > have to say you're just going to have to wait it out. Ants are one > of those seasonal pests, and will usually go away after it gets a > little cooler (asuming it gets cool where you are.) > > > > Rob Cook > If you want to try home remedies first, I've tried two things in the past, which was effective when done together. 1. Found the probable entry point of the ants, and used Raid (or Black Flag, etc. ) Ant/Roach spray on that small area only. In my case, this was only on the outside edge of door sills, stoops, etc., as we have a child and a cat, and I didn't want any toxic substances inside the house. 2. For longer term, I sprinkled Diazanon crystals around the outside foundation perimeter. This shouldn't be a health hazard to pets, assuming your pets don't eat or chew the grass, etc. right next to your foundation. Again, use restraint in using Diazanon where it might be ingested by animals, etc. With winter approaching, step 2 isn't really necessary anyway. Bob Schleicher ihuxk!rs55611
judy@phoenix.UUCP (Judy S. Snow) (12/13/85)
Cinnamon works really well! We spread it all over the kitchen counters (use a lot). Your kitchen looks bad, but smells great. The season changed and they went away - in the meantime, it sure beat the smell of Raid! Judy Snow (phoenix!judy)