Amazon.com: diatomaceous earth: Patio, Lawn & Garden
I saw results in 24 hours. This stuff gets dragged back to the nest also.
I saw results in 24 hours. This stuff gets dragged back to the nest also.
Black Ants Taking Over the Yard
- Thread starter Beltzington
- Start date
- Views: 1635
breadtrk
Platinum Member
Bifen from Co-Op or tractor supply. 2oz per gallon in a sprayer solves all insect issues around here.
TractorGuy
Elite Member
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2013
- Messages
- 4,591
- Location
- N. FL
- Tractor
- John Deere 4310 CUT, Ford New Holland 575E Industrial Backhoe, John Deere F725 Front Mount Mower
We've had an invasion of large black carpenter ants this year.
mercdv
Silver Member
48 hours is the conservative estimate. I've never personally seen it take longer than about 18 hours with the borax liquid mix for the ants to stop coming. My dad said it took around 40+ hours with his carpenter ants but I wasn't there to help him set the bait. I think he wasn't doing it right but I didn't want to question him since he is 70+ and still sharp as a tack. The problem with powders is that they rely on contact and communal cleaning. The sugary liquid is food and is shared within a few minutes to large quantities of ants. Basically, it only takes as long as the borax takes to kill them before most of the mound is dead because food is shared faster than communal cleaning.
Either way, both methods work fast.
In addition to the carpenter ants, we also had some unbelievably tough small black ants. The only place those are active are at the well box for my hand dug well. I can't use toxic chemicals there. The diatomaceous earth took care of the little beggars. They were eating the fiberglass and Styrofoam insulation. Everything looked like Swiss cheese.
japody
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2013
- Messages
- 827
- Location
- Richmond & Boydton VA
- Tractor
- Ford 4000 & 5000, New Holland TN65, Mahindrda 2516
We had an invasion of small black ants coming in the window if front of the kitchen faucet. Mixed up a 50/50 mixture of borax and jelly and set them out on 1 inch square pieces of cardboard. Within a short time, the cardboard was black from being completely covered with the ants feeding. Next day, 0 ants.
If I didn't have so many birds and bunnies running around the place I would brew a batch up just to try out. I have boric acid. I also wouldn't want honeybees to get into it.
mercdv
Silver Member
You do not know how happy this statement makes me. I am absolutely the same way. One of my friends is a bee keeper so we are big on protecting them. You can easily make something only ants can enter that protects everything else. If I have to put it out where bees can get to it, I use the Terro bait stations that only allow really small ant sized insect to enter.
For people and animals, keep in mind that borax is only as toxic as salt in the sense that too much borax will be the same as ingesting a large amount of salt.
Good info! Thanks. I tried Terro ant baits years ago but none of my ants were attracted. I just went outside for an ant search and didn't see any. I'll try again in the morning.
I have reached a point in my life that I don't enjoy killing anything (except ants and tree rats). Things that cause damage to my house and property need to go. I will always try to run them off first. You should have seen me with the salmon net and the porcupine. That was awesome. I hauled him 10 miles up the road and released.
mercdv
Silver Member
LOL...you and me both, brother. Tree rats and I do not get along at all. They have been destroying our home and outdoor items for years now. I only kill the ones I see actively causing damage but I think that will have to change soon. The population is booming with very few natural predators in the area so they are becoming a major pain .
