Ants?

[jdogg4]

Anyone else notice a larger ant problem this summer in Colorado than in the past. Like the last two summers it was yellow jackets. I had 3 spots they were coming from along the fence line and 2 up by the house. This year I got those little tiny black ants. Like millions of them. I see them early in the morning and right before dusk when it's a bit cooler. it just looks like the rocks are moving or like a big pile of black moving dirt then I take a up-close look and BAM! ANTS! I started to notice them more when working on the flower planter I made out front of the house they were all along the brick line and eating the Iris bulbs so pissed I lost about half of these Iris that were planted a few years back. Now I got them in waves around the house and fence line. I went to Lowes and got some shaker stuff that seams to be working, but I'm just chasing them around the house. I sprinkled this stuff around the house and they went out to the fence line so then I put that stuff out there and a few days later I found them up by the house again. I've gone through this jug almost and it should last a whole year or 5 but it's almost gone. One neighbor doesn’t speak English so I’m not sure if they are having a problem and the other neighbor said he had some along my fence line but used the same stuff I’m using and he hasn’t had any problems since. Jerk just sent them to my yard. I’m at a lost on how to get rid of these little fawkers.

 

[RTicUL8]

I've had an ant problem every year, this is the second year that I have seen those tiny black ants - some of them have wings too!

I used the ortho ant sprinkle stuff and that worked great. They will usually go away after a week or two.


p.s. - Westminster

 

[jdogg4]

I started out with the ortho sprayer and that worked good on the ants and then they came back about a week later. Then I went and got the ortho granuals that they haul back to the queen and it's worked for few days to a week. LIke last week I think monday when I was doing yard work I did the whole house again and then a few trouble spots. GONE all week long and we were gone this weekend. I was out last night hitting a few dry spots with a little extra water and noticed them again on the house. I hate these little things.

 

[Wrench Wench]

We always used cheyenne pepper around the base of the house and the door ways.. takes a while but some species of ants won't cross it. My house was infested with the little black piss ants in upstate NY. I bleached everything once a week, counters, floors, and base boards. even did the steps out front. Works great for about a week.

 

[jdogg4]

ya the bigger black and red ones those died and never came back, but these little ones are a PITA! I was out there with hair spray and a lighter the other night. I even used BBQ fluid and a match to burn them up. next day they were back at it. I guess I'm just luckey that I haven't had them in the house yet and they are just out back at this point. I have noticed one thing that comes to mind is I only in the dryer spots of my back yard and up against the house were I have rock is were I'm noticing them. I'm going to have to get to flooding those little bastards out of my yard. or maybe a surgar trail into the neighbors yard. That might just work.

 

[SteveT]

Powdered sugar and baking soda mixed together. They can't burp. They eat it, it mixes with their stomach acid, bye-bye.

 

[jdogg4]

I tried the chalk thing but it didn't work.
those two would be safe to use with pets around. I might give that a shot. That other stuff says not to use around pets but the back yard is the dogs area so I have to watch her and make sure she isn't licking it up. most of it falls down in the rocks and stuff but I can't afford for her to be sick again.

 

[Hypoid]

You had to mention them!

Actually, we have less problem this year. After 2-3 years of feeding them the bait they drag off to the nest, they have not been a problem inside.

There's a new hill next door...red ants...they cross my drive...that's gonna cease!