Ants? Now? (house, living, shop)

[Voebe]

After all these years, I suddenly have ants running all over the kitchen counter, and since I can't tell for sure what subject forum to post in (Gardening?), I thought I'd ask here. I can't tell where they're coming from, and I've never had this problem before. It's complicated by its being on the kitchen counter, where we woulnd't normally want pesticides.

What have you used? I'm open both to your favorite hardware store remedy and your preferred pest control company request.

[HDL]

I had a very bad ant problem last year in my kitchen and my master bath - both areas with water, pipes and electrical outlets. But without seeing any actual ant trails, it was extremely difficult to know how to stop them from coming in. I knew one place was the wall outlets, but wasn't sure how to kill the ants and not do any damage to my electrical wires.

I tried every holistic method I could find and also various ant sprays, but finally after a month of continuing to see them on my counters, I went out and bought "Terro Liquid Ant Baits" from Walmart. They have packs of 4 for $3.98 which is very affordable and worked very well for me. Within 2 days they were all gone and didn't come back.

I believe that the ants are living under my foundation, coming up through the walls and pipes during the hottest times of the year when they are seeking food, water and cooler temps - lol . I'm not sure that outside spraying would do anything at my house, but YMMV.

Best of luck!

Originally Posted by Voebe

After all these years, I suddenly have ants running all over the kitchen counter, and since I can't tell for sure what subject forum to post in (Gardening?), I thought I'd ask here. I can't tell where they're coming from, and I've never had this problem before. It's complicated by its being on the kitchen counter, where we woulnd't normally want pesticides.

What have you used? I'm open both to your favorite hardware store remedy and your preferred pest control company request.

[Lexethan]

I second "Terro Liquid Ant Baits". It works like a charm in a few short days, not a single ant left. I even tested by leaving food out, nothing.

[wit-nit]

Terro Bait inside, Amdro around the house perimeter outside.

[AzScorpion12]

I've been using this Talstar for years both inside and out with great results. Gave some to my girlfriend a few years back who was having the same problem you are (ants in her kitchen) and after one treatment has never had them again. It also treats many other common pests and is very safe to use.

https://www.domyown.com/talstar-tals...BwE&sub_id=656

[Voebe]

Originally Posted by HDL

I had a very bad ant problem last year in my kitchen and my master bath - both areas with water, pipes and electrical outlets. But without seeing any actual ant trails, it was extremely difficult to know how to stop them from coming in. I knew one place was the wall outlets, but wasn't sure how to kill the ants and not do any damage to my electrical wires.

I tried every holistic method I could find and also various ant sprays, but finally after a month of continuing to see them on my counters, I went out and bought "Terro Liquid Ant Baits" from Walmart. They have packs of 4 for $3.98 which is very affordable and worked very well for me. Within 2 days they were all gone and didn't come back.

I believe that the ants are living under my foundation, coming up through the walls and pipes during the hottest times of the year when they are seeking food, water and cooler temps - lol . I'm not sure that outside spraying would do anything at my house, but YMMV.

Very interesting, thanks. I'm very skeptical of bait - termite guys use bait stations even though there is no evidence that they work well. But I'll give the a try (even though I don't shop at Walmart!). I think that Talstar is one of the routine pesticides that my guy uses, but that's usually baseboards.

In the meantime, I tried something interesting. I remembered that with mice, one problem is that they leave a trail that others follow, so I'm experimenting with wiping with something that will eliminate any ant-residue.

Thanks, all.

[MSchemist80]

I'm fighting small ants right now in my master bath. They seem to be coming from under the tub. I've had the Terro's traps out for 2 months now and It has reduced the number and killed a lot of workers and the ants are taking it they are still coming. I also tried the RAID traps which don't seem to work, Combat max roach gel (they make an ant one both contain the same amount of Fipronil but Walmart only had the roach one) but they aren't working either. Not sure what to try next.

[BigEinAz]

Inside I put Amdro in little pans made of aluminum foil and place these in trouble spots. They take the poison back to the nest. Seems to work well for me. Amdro is great. Just the regular, not fire ant version.

[Voebe]

Thank you, guys! I bought some Terro at Paul's Hardware, which is my go-to, as I try to avoid Home Depot - and it WORKED!