ANTS!! Since rain. (renters, house, landlord)

[loribell38]

Anyone here having problem with ants? After all the rain we had on Saturday we are infested with ants galore. Never saw so may in all my life. Every room thousands of them suckers. Going to call for exterminator tomorrow. Any suggestions? Will not get into contract as we are renters and just take it off our rent.


Landlord is always too slow to respond so we take matters into our own hands all the time.

Thanks!

[loribell38]

Figured out they are carpenter ants as since last night everything was covered in sawdust.

[BigBlue53]

The you better call an exterminator. RAID gel bait works great but you sound as if you need them dead today.

[alexei27]

You know what worked for us? Borax! You do have to be able to tell where they are coming into the house, but we sprinkled this stuff around those areas and within a few days they were gone. They walk through the powder and carry it back to the nest. I had a LOT of them also...they had infested one wall and there were thousands.

They like warmth and moisture...so look in areas where the sun hits the house and it could be moist. Also...much to peoples confusion...they do not eat new wood...they eat old rotting wood (so not the same as termites).

[twingles]

You can get Raid ant bait for $10. I can't believe someone would call a landlord about this. We've gotten them too when it's been rainy or when we've had work done on the house.

[hotkarl]

I have the same thing. Friggin ' ants everywhere but thankfully not in the house. Yet.
Carpenter ants are just as bad as termites.

[loribell38]

Originally Posted by twingles

You can get Raid ant bait for $10. I can't believe someone would call a landlord about this. We've gotten them too when it's been rainy or when we've had work done on the house.

Why would one not call landlord about carpenter ants?! It effects entire property. Sawdust all over . They are out of control. Should mention we live on the water and were deeply affected by Sandy. Tons of wood on lower level, which no one lives in as it basically always is wet even prior to Sandy.

[loribell38]

Originally Posted by alexei27

You know what worked for us? Borax! You do have to be able to tell where they are coming into the house, but we sprinkled this stuff around those areas and within a few days they were gone. They walk through the powder and carry it back to the nest. I had a LOT of them also...they had infested one wall and there were thousands.

They like warmth and moisture...so look in areas where the sun hits the house and it could be moist. Also...much to peoples confusion...they do not eat new wood...they eat old rotting wood (so not the same as termites).

Letting them figure out where it is coming from as it is likely from below us where no one lives. We are on water and likely still moist (lots of wood) from Sandy. Tried many things last few days on our own. With carpenter ants they need to find the nest and destroy. Bait is of no use to rid of problem. Borax..no luck.

Thanks!

[GR8ACTR]

A completely non-toxic , and inexpensive , cure for ants is Quaker Oats Grits ( preferably the granular kind ). The Grits , uncooked ( of course ) , are poisonous to ants but they eat it like it's candy.

[30to66at55]

There are a lot of non-southerners who feel that grits are toxic too.