Help!! Ants Around Top Of Agp - Can't Get Rid Of Them!

[cpmart]

Another suggestion for a BBB-related solution to your ant problem: borax.

There is a product out there called "Terro" which is a borax + sugar solution. They sell both indoor and outdoor versions of the stuff (I believe it is the same recipe, just different delivery systems). We used it for some small indoor ants and it worked great! You put a small puddle of the stuff on a slip of cardboard near where you see the ants roaming. Eventually, they find the stuff, drink it, bring it back to the nest, and kill the others hiding in the nest. It was disgusting, but the ants loved this stuff so much that they were shoving each other out of the way to get it, and we had a line of ants walking from the nest to the terro and back to the nest. It is really important not to kill the ones that you see drinking it, because they have to deliver it back to the queen so she will die and wipe out the hidden nest. Our ants were completely eliminated in less than 2 days.

The outside version of terro is the borax solution in a small plastic cup that you spike into the ground. I'll bet one of these near your pool problem would call the ants to it, and eventually kill the nest. I'm sure there is an online recipe for making the sugar-borax solution, but I bought mine at Walmart, and it was pretty cheap.

I know borax is relatively safe, but you mentioned you had a dog, and I wonder if the sugary solution would also draw him to eat the borax? I might call the terro company (or google them) and see what they suggest regarding pets. Ours worked so quickly indoors though, it just might be worth keeping the dog away from the area for a couple of days.

Good luck
chris

[bgray]

I know borax is relatively safe, but you mentioned you had a dog, and I wonder if the sugary solution would also draw him to eat the borax? I might call the terro company (or google them) and see what they suggest regarding pets. Ours worked so quickly indoors though, it just might be worth keeping the dog away from the area for a couple of days.

From the terro.com website:

"Pets occasionally find the Terro and eat it. Our advice when this happens
is to do nothing at all. The product is not toxic enough to cause a problem
and the pet will be just fine."

[hoffmans]

Diatomaous Earth a.k.a DE
kills bugs dead.
And it is safe to use all around the home.
If you get food grade DE you can sprinkle it in your pet food to help kill their intestinal parasite (worms). Do not feed them filter grade DE.
You can also sprinkle the food grade on your garden, however, it doesn't know the difference between the good bugs and the bad. Also great sprinkled around the foundation of your home/garage and pool.


Make sure you know what grade of DE you are buying.
One is food grade.
One is filter grade.
Don't mix them up.
They are both safe and amazing products when used for their intended purposes.

~Hoffmans

[webfeet]

Where can you find the food grade DE?

Webfeet

[Spensar]

Try a health food store, and not hard to find on the net.

Interesting point here:

http://wolfcreekranch1.tripod.com/defaq.html

Pool filter grade diatomaceous earth has been heat and chemically treated and will poison an animal or human who ingests it, so it is always of utmost importance to only obtain food grade diatomaceous earth to use in and around your household.