ANTS EVERYWHERE!

[JackTopus]

its getting colder here so ants tend to come in the house more looking for food and shelter. I just came into my room to notice Ants all over my mantis cages. My room is upstairs on the second floor, so i'm a bit surprised.

luckily the ants haven't gotten to my mantids yet. they seem more interested in the potted plants and bug left overs

my question is, how do i get rid of the ants? not like i can bug spray my room, in fear killing the mantis. And how to prevent more invasions to their cages.

I smashed as many asi could and i recently used soap and water on the ant trail, hopefully getting rid of any pheromone trail they left... not sure how effected that's going to be though.

 

[Ranitomeya]

This happens several times every year here in Fremont. It's always Argentine ants. In the summer when it's hot and dry, they come in seeking shelter from the heat and to get water. When the winter rains start up and the cold weather moves in, they come in for shelter from the cold and a dry place to stay... I've taken to using baby powder around the bases of whatever I put my vivariums and bug containers on, it seems to keep them at bay.

 

[JackTopus]

ooo baby powder! that makes sense. i'll give that a try

how thick do you have to apply it on?

 

[Ranitomeya]

I just do a thin powdering, as long as it doesn't get wiped away, it works.

 

[sinensispsyched]

Or glue pad mouse traps!

 

[Termite48]

What works really well: Get some jar lids and put a liquid made up of corn syrup (attractant) and boric acid (found at the drug store)

Heat up in the microwave about one-half cup of the syrup with a tablespoon of the boric acid. Place this is bottle lids all over but out of your way. The ants go there, drink and leave and they are killed shortly thereafter. They can even carry some back to their nest, which is usually underground. Another thing to do is to follow their trail backward to see from where they are coming and get to them at the point of origin. Usually they are coming from a big crack in the ground somewhere. I have even poured gallons of boiling water into that crack and know that without any toxicity I have killed hundred if not thousands of the feisty little creatures we call ants of the family of insect called "formicidae".

 

[JackTopus]

awesome, thanks for the suggestions

 

[lancaster1313]

Powder sounds good.

I will try that on the Pheidole megacephala that have raided my enclosures. They will go for the scraps first, but eventually kill the creatures that are enclosed.

I have used curl enhancing mousse in the cracks that they came from in the past with some results, but it doesn't stop them completely. Also, Ortho home defense on the outer perimeter of your home can have some results.

I was also thinking of using a pesticidal powder in the cracks and caulking it up, I have confidence that that will work well in many places in the house.

Sticky traps will probably be limited if not checked regularly. Many ants will eventually find their way around them, or walk right over their trapped colony mates.

 

[Webeviction]

Also if you have the enclosures on a table or book shelf with legs you can place the legs of your table or whatever in cups of oil or water then the ants can't get to the enclosures so long as there's nothing else in contact with the table like power cords and such.... I also made a bait like Rich s explained which wiped them out for a very long time