Has anyone had a problem with ants this year?

Question

I live in Central Texas and am being overrun by ants.Even to the point that they're getting in my closet.Every one I've talked to has the same problem.It's like the ants know they're about to inherit the earth and they're going ahead and moving in.I've tried everything from poisons to home remedies.The best I've been able to do is slow them down a little.Does anybody have any suggestions?

Answer 1

Just like roaches, those little critters were here before man was, and will most likely be here long after man has gone. All we can do is hopefully keep them at bay, and out of our houses. The problem is, here in Central Texas we didn't have much of a winter this last year. A couple of good hard freezes is required to keep them under control during the summer months. When summer gets here, just like us, they are always seeking out cooler places to go. They are all around the outside of our houses, and they sense "cool" inside those bricks. Since nothing is totally airtight, there are literally thousands of little cracks and crevices for them to get in, and they instinctively find them.

I would recommend you go to one of these Do-In-Yourself Pest Control Places. You probably should spray all around the outside perimeter of your house. Or have a pest control company come do it.

Answer 2

I don't live in Texas, but i did have an ant problem. Carpenter ants and someother kind to be exact. The best way is to call an exterminator. The Orkin Man was the best service we found and they come by and due a check-up every two months now, and since then we haven't had any issues. Check with your neighbors and friends and find out if they know of anyone with a good service in the area.

Answer 3

Get some silicon sealant and go round the edges and corners of every room. Put some underlay (plastic) down and do the edges of this with the sealant too. Get those strips for the doors that hug each other when the door is shut and put covers on keyholes. Get windows with the same thing and make sure that thereis sealant round the glass. Also put strong bleach round your plugholes and overflow ducts every day. If they still get in keep at it and find their entry points. I had phaeroe ants for a while and I was overrun (these things are brutal). I tried the method and it worked. Also establish a paremeter by killing em off in your street and garden.

Answer 4

just tried this recipe.....it works on all kinds of ants.
use 2 tbls. peanut butter mix with 1 1/2 teas. boric acid and enough flour to make crumbly. sprinkle on the trails. they love the peanut butter. give them about 3-5 days to deliver it to the colony. it will kill them off as they eat it! Do not use around animals.they will become sick. if you have pets...place into a container and place some holes in it. the ants will go through the holes to get it....but keeps it away from your pets!

Answer 5

ha ha I used to live in Arlington, and had ants, but used the sprinkle bait and it worked, but not instantly- I am in Michigan now and we have ants up the A-- too, coming in around the sink and counters on one wall, tiny black ants , real tiny. We also have giant Black ants- and red ones. So it ain't just Texas.

Answer 6

I'm in St Paul MN and I had big black ants for months. I tried ant traps and they didn;t work so I got regular Terro liquid and that did the trick! Good luck.

Answer 7

best I can do for you is sprinkle ant bait around the outside of you home.
Spray around all pipes entering you house, you may also need to re-caulk them.
put out ant bait trays under sinks and in cabinets, don;t give up, you can with time and persistence win this battle :-)

Answer 8

yes.....I have a carpenter ant problem...I live in PA...they are very annoying and are destroying my home....I have an exterminator but he cant even control them.

Answer 9

I got ants everywhere in my pat.

Answer 10

yes, here too in Wisconsin, I washed everything (countertops, floors, walls, etc.) down with clorox cleaner & they are all gone.