Thursday, March 26, 2009

Ant High Season

It's that time of year, spring, when ants and termites multiply.
With the rainy weather we've been having, all colonies are looking for dry nesting areas.
It's been a daily battle for the last week and so far there seems no end to this battle.
Sat in my office late one evening and turned the overhead light on.
Within seconds the room was filled with a swarm of flying ants.
It took a full can of spray to win that battle.
Two nights later, the same thing.
I knew it was time to find the nest.
A close inspection of external walls ands I discovered the nest in a crack of the metal window frame.  More spray.
Ants and termites have a knack for finding cracks, even in cement.
The battle will continue with a calking gun today.

Another colony, larger red ants, had made their home in a crack of tile attached to the exterior of the house.
Dusted that nest with baby powder and they vacated the premisses in a hurry.


Another colony established residence under a flower pot.  A few drops of dishwater and the garden hose and that crash pad was vacated.
Ants leave a trail by which they find their way and communicate, so it's important to wash places where they have been. 
To get rid of ants permanently you have to follow them to their nest.
For severe infestations a locally available commercial product is part of my arsenal.
The stuff is highly concentrated, just a few drops per gallon of water will do the trick.



After the application has worked to eradicate the pests, I wash the area with water in order to prevent poisoning the house pets.
There's some good information at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln on the subject of ants

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