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Invasion of Ants

Our house has been INVADED with sugar ants. They don't bite but they're everywhere. Nothing is safe: the cabinet, pantry, counter tops, table, floor, even the bathroom. EW.

Last year we kept them at bay by keeping the counters clean, but this year's army is more ferocious. No matter how sparkling they just come in and roam around.

Here's a list of things we've tried:

chalk lines
corn meal
corn starch
mint
Raid Ant Spray
Grant's Ants stakes
Ant Motels (not just for roaches anymore)

Has anybody successfully beaten ants? We don't know where they're getting in. I've heard that fumigating doesn't work on this kind of ant.

I'm open to just about anything.

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Permalink Reply by Mary Bennett on August 11, 2010 at 2:50pm

We've just noticed this problem yesterday. I had one of the kids drink a can of Coke yesterday (what a chore! How did they survive???) and leave a little bit on the bottom. We mixed equal parts of Borax and white sugar, and then poured it into the empty (but still wet with Coke on the sides) soda can and put it onto the counter where we saw them yesterday. As of this afternoon, no ants in site.

MaryB
marynate.blogspot.com

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Permalink Reply by Mary Brazeau on August 11, 2010 at 9:03pm

We first made sure all pantry items were in a plastic bag or container. Cleaned like crazy. Then used cayenne pepper mixed with borax and made a perimeter around the house and around the kitchen. Where you see them scrub well with bleach-- they leave scent trails to lead the other ants in.