We had to be treated for termites a few weeks back and while I was talking to the guy about those destructive guys, we saw those little sugar ants marching up and down the siding of my house. He asked me if we had problems on the inside of the house with the ants and I said yes. I also told him the only thing we could find to keep them out of the house was "Borax". He told me that killing ants can be much easier, safer and cheaper than most people
realize. The only thing you will need to kill them is sugar and Borax,
or boric acid. The sugar attracts the ants to the open buffet, while the Borax works as a long-term
killer. Ants consider this powder to be food, and foragers will feed it to the other members of the colony, including the queen. When the queen dies, so does the rest of the clan. He said that the "Boric Acid" gets in their stomachs and kills, by drying them out!
CAUTION: Borax is toxic. Do not place the traps in areas where animals
(like the family pet) can accidentally open the lid and ingest the
poison. Just be careful with it!
Linked with:
Frugal Day Sustainable Ways
The Morristribes Homestead Blog Carnival
The Garden Showcase
Barn Hop # 60
Sleepy But Sassy
Weekend Whatever
Garden Life
Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop
Linked with:
Frugal Day Sustainable Ways
The Morristribes Homestead Blog Carnival
The Garden Showcase
Barn Hop # 60
Sleepy But Sassy
Weekend Whatever
Garden Life
Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop
This would've come in handy when I lived in TX - all those nasty fire antS!
ReplyDeleteI have read to give them grits, but I will do this as well seeing as we have both in the cupboard! THANK YOU! :-)
ReplyDeleteMuch more effective than spraying everywhere which seems to be a lot of people's initial reaction. You have to be patient with ants to really handle them. Thanks for the info.
ReplyDeleteI find it strange that we are bothered by an insect that gets praised in the bible for being such a work horse...lol
ReplyDeleteloved this post! thanks for sharing such a great tip!
ReplyDeletewill be using this for sure!
Thank you!
Thanks for this great post, Clint!
ReplyDeleteSo glad to get this advice and tips
ReplyDelete...thanks!
Pat
I may try it on our fire ants. They are a nuisance in the garden! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI was getting ready to make up a batch (after reading this somewhere else), and thought I would see if it was different. Same recipe :-) I did want to ask about your termite problem though. Do the person find the source of the problem? I am not sure about termites, and how they work, but I know that carpenter ants only go after rotting wood. If termites work the same, then you will need to find the rotting wood, or you will only have a repeat of the termites, either that or a possibly unsafe structure.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Kerri
From what he told me termites go after the cellulose in the wood! They find it by finding moister in the ground. Its a big long explanation about how God mad them to survive and find food. He did tell me this, he said "Its not a matter if a house has termites, its when is the house gonna get termites!" He also said newer homes are more likely to get them then homes that were built 50 plus years ago, they used to treat with "cloridaine" that probably not how you spell it!.
DeleteI need to write this down on a recipe card and get it filed. A lot of people in my area started seeing ants in my area in February, I seen a couple then nothing, they have steered clear of my home so far. I'm just waiting though, lol.
ReplyDeleteIt was so warm every where, I guess thats why we were seeing them early!
DeleteThanks for the actual recipe Clint. I remember my Mom mixing it up for ants when I was a kid, but I didn't know the proportions. You're a lifesaver as I am experiencing an ant invasion this week... Have a GREAT week!
ReplyDeleteYour friend,
Heidi
I am glad it helped,You have a great week as well!
DeleteMy mother recently went to the hardware store looking for a product to kill ants and would be safe for her cat. (Borax is not safe for most animals.) She was told to put Splenda at the entry point. It works as a deterrent and kills the ones that ingest it, but doesn't affect the colony, so you do have to reapply it whenever another group finds it's way in.
ReplyDeleteI am going to have to use this. We have the worst fire ants in our yard this year! The little sugar ants don't bother me so much, but when you have to constantly watch where you are walking in the yard so you aren't eaten up by ants, I hate it for the kids! Thanks :)
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of trap did you use? Bottle lids??? Will that work?
ReplyDeleteBottle lids will work, anything to put it in!
DeleteThis is too funny. I randomly got asked at the grocery store if I knew how to get rid of them without the chemicals! I wish I would have read this last night! :)
ReplyDeleteI am starting a blog party on Mondays called Make Your Move Mondays. I would love to have you link up this post or one like it!
Tara @ http://simplymadehome.blogspot.com/
Hi, after reading this amazing article i am as well cheerful
ReplyDeleteto share my experience here with colleagues.
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