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tessa
head gardener
Australia
3682 Posts |
 Posted - 16/05/2008 : 10:31:59
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i just opened up the pantry...and it's teeming with ants!!!
HOW am i going to get them out of there????
cranky people live longer. i'm going to live forever!
perth, wa
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The Estate
head gardener
Australia
3676 Posts |
Posted - 16/05/2008 : 10:56:49
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Surface spray works well after the clean up , I use it at the back door step, they like to come into the laundry for the pets water and food in Summer.
My basic weeding rule: if they grow in rows they're flowers;
if they don't they're weeds.
Melbourne |
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Mary-Anne
garden sage
Australia
10809 Posts |
Posted - 16/05/2008 : 11:06:01
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Get yourself some plain wrap el cheapo baby powder and sprinkle that around they wont walk over it..
Works good for me up here... Smells better too.
Good Things Come To Those That Wait ... I am Tired Of Waiting
Love Your Enemies... It Will Drive Them Nuts |
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tessa
head gardener
Australia
3682 Posts |
Posted - 16/05/2008 : 13:05:59
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thanks thee and mary-anne. i'd rather not put a chemical spray in with my food...so baby powder sounds good to me.
i think that one day soon, my entire house will tilt, and then collapse into a sinkhole created by the billions of ants that are currently tunnelling under my house!
cranky people live longer. i'm going to live forever!
perth, wa |
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The Estate
head gardener
Australia
3676 Posts |
Posted - 16/05/2008 : 13:13:41
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What about good old fashion Ant Rid ??
My basic weeding rule: if they grow in rows they're flowers;
if they don't they're weeds.
Melbourne |
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Mary-Anne
garden sage
Australia
10809 Posts |
Posted - 16/05/2008 : 13:53:12
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That's never worked for me but then different ants different appetites..
Then we have so many different ones up here, White, Green, Fire, Bull, Yellow, Electric
And the list goes on Bulldog, Jumper, Pony, Meat, Spiny Etc::
There are 1275 described species and subspecies in OZ..
But by far the worse are those little blighter's that get between your toe and your thong..
And bite like crazy and do they hurt and that spot itches for many days.
Sometimes the teatree oil does not work they are so vicious..
Good Things Come To Those That Wait ... I am Tired Of Waiting
Love Your Enemies... It Will Drive Them Nuts |
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Jacqueline
assistant gardener
Australia
249 Posts |
Posted - 16/05/2008 : 13:53:37
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Derinately Ant Rid, works like a charm, and they take it back to the nest and kills the whole jolly lot. Nothing better.
Jacqueline, Brisbane |
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Mary-Anne
garden sage
Australia
10809 Posts |
Posted - 16/05/2008 : 13:58:48
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Have you actually followed then back to the nest to find out..
We have that why I know it don't work.
But Diesel and a match does to a certain extent all depends how far down they are..
Good Things Come To Those That Wait ... I am Tired Of Waiting
Love Your Enemies... It Will Drive Them Nuts |
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tessa
head gardener
Australia
3682 Posts |
Posted - 16/05/2008 : 15:01:20
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wow. you gals means *business*!!! LOL.
i just want them to leave...without poisoning myself or burning my house down in the process.
but i must admit...i admire the gusto in the responses!
cranky people live longer. i'm going to live forever!
perth, wa |
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Mary-Anne
garden sage
Australia
10809 Posts |
Posted - 16/05/2008 : 20:26:04
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Too right Tessa.. I had to laugh at your response also.. Burn the house down !!!! Funny  .. No we only did the diesel thing on the jolly ant nests when we realised the other things were not working, and they were out in the garden and not near the house..
Good Things Come To Those That Wait ... I am Tired Of Waiting
Love Your Enemies... It Will Drive Them Nuts |
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Gail
garden sage
Australia
7707 Posts |
Posted - 17/05/2008 : 05:21:10
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We have so many ants around here it nearly drives me crazy, luckily mostly outside and not as bad since we had the good rain end of last year. For a bait, a borax and sugar mix works... sometimes - I think it depends on the species (also supposed to be good for cockroaches). I haven't found Ant Rid to be helpful at all. I know a few different scented oils helps as a deterrent but I can never remember which ones. While having a look for them I found these pages with some helpful sounding hints
http://www.thefrugallife.com/ants.html
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/980528a.cfm
Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit, wisdom is knowing not to use it in a fruit salad.
A ounce of common sense is worth more than a ton of intelligence.
Gail, near Gympie, Qld |
Edited by - Gail on 17/05/2008 05:22:40 |
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Gail
garden sage
Australia
7707 Posts |
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Mary-Anne
garden sage
Australia
10809 Posts |
Posted - 17/05/2008 : 07:20:19
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Good on you Gail I knew you would find us a few links..
Amazing what you can use that is not toxic...
And smells better..
Good Things Come To Those That Wait ... I am Tired Of Waiting
Love Your Enemies... It Will Drive Them Nuts |
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tessa
head gardener
Australia
3682 Posts |
Posted - 17/05/2008 : 10:31:11
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thanks gail!
i removed their item of interest (the honey jar) and this morning...no ants.
when i get the time...i'll clear out the entire pantry and then get to work on the safer approaches to ant discouragement.
cranky people live longer. i'm going to live forever!
perth, wa |
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ciunia
dirt-poker
Australia
22 Posts |
Posted - 18/05/2008 : 10:08:50
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Tessa, if it honey they were after than home made Ant Rid would work, mix 3 table spoons of honey with a good table spoon of Borax which poisons them, you can get it in hardware stores and wait for them to come and get it. For a while you will get more ants, lots more but later they will disappear.
I have those tiny brown ants that are digging the paving up and they do not seem attracted to ant rid.
Barbara
coastal, north of Perth
Patience is a virtue of the Gods |
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edleigh7
head gardener
Australia
1005 Posts |
Posted - 20/05/2008 : 08:53:38
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Ahhh leave them be. I know they can be a bit of a pain at times, but they are important in the overall scheme of things. Like Tessa discovered, you found the source now no more ants. Well done Tessa!!
My mrs hates them but they don't bother me
Ed
Brisbane QLD AUS
Tropical Collector |
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