Ants are getting smart

[scubascuba3]

The ants have reappeared the last couple weeks must be the change in weather, anyway they are walking straight past the ant power and ignoring it. Any tips? what currently works?

[GregTN]

I have observed that different types of ants at different times of the year want different things.  Sometimes they want sugar/sweet, or proteins, or moisture, or maybe they are on the move to get away from something like water or something not favorable to their nest.  Mine always go back to the bate sooner or later.

[RichardColeman]

My wife tends to just draw with lots of chalk on the floor and walls and draw roads to the neighbours house

Edited April 11, 2021 by RichardColeman

[AhFarangJa]

We had an invasion about three weeks ago. The Wife said it was the warm weather. I said "Oh, are they coming on holiday"

The slightest drop of anything left in the kitchen was pounced on in minutes, the worst being the tiny ones at about half a millimetre.

The place was covered in white ant chalk but perseverance paid off in the end.

[tonray]

Luckily we don't get them in the house but in the yard they are in epidemic proportions. The little tiny ones. They are in the lawn in the millions. If I leave any cat food out for local feral mom and her kitten...if they don't eat it within 10 minutes, it's swarmed. I hate them ! If I swat a fly, within minutes the ants swarm over the carcass in the grass. The only positive is they really don't bite like the little bastards I had in Penang.

Edited April 11, 2021 by tonray

[tonray]

37 minutes ago, AhFarangJa said:

The Wife said it was the warm weather.

Yes, I've found when the humidity is up also they swarm for some reason

[timendres]

Bayer Quantum works miracles on those ants that will eat it. Every ant in my place, with the exception of one group, loves this stuff, then disappears.

 

[Saraburi121]

Had three ant invasions of the house this past two months.  Spray took care of them. They usually happen about 10pm not sure why.  Been getting a lot of critters in the house which is usual during the start of rains. Had two scorpions on my hanging bath towel, good thing I am in the habit of shaking clothing and such before using. Maybe it is going to be an early rainy season. 

[ThailandRyan]

2 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

My wife tends to just draw with lots of chalk on the floor and walls and draw roads to the neighbours house

Just like the Yellow Brick Road.....sending them to Oz.

[Moonlover]

Ants. Great little creatures. Survived all adversities for over 150 million years and they'll still be around when we have all turned to dust.

 

They'll also very good at showing you where your hygiene weak spots are. Just follow the trail.

[Golden Triangle]

1 hour ago, timendres said:

Bayer Quantum works miracles on those ants that will eat it. Every ant in my place, with the exception of one group, loves this stuff, then disappears.

 

That is the best stuff ever, been using it for a few years now, excellent results,  the other good stuff is the Chaindrite powder, I'll go find a picture.

Edited April 11, 2021 by Golden Triangle
Added pic

[phetphet]

Borax powder. I mix it with sugar and honey, add boiling water to make a syrup and  leave it in bottle caps on their trails. They take it back to the  nest. Four days later all gone.

[MartinL]

1 hour ago, Moonlover said:

Ants. Great little creatures. Survived all adversities for over 150 million years and they'll still be around when we have all turned to dust.

 

They'll also very good at showing you where your hygiene weak spots are. Just follow the trail.

 

Even though they can be a pain in the house, I find ants to be fascinating little things. Maybe I'm weird but I enjoy watching them going about their lives.

 

Outdoors I leave them be. In the house I try to spray the nest entrance rather than their trails but, no matter how smart you think you are in defeating them, they'll always have the last word and pop-up gain just as you're celebrating getting rid of them.

 

As I said, fascinating little creatures. 

 

BTW have you ever watched weaver ants building their leaf nest?

[Antonymous]

Can't stand ants around the house, or roaches. We get a pest spray company to do over the whole house and garden (big house and more than one rai) twice a year. They drill under the floors all around and into the roof spaces to catch possible termites (we have alot of wood) which is extremely important. Costs 16,000 baht a year and worth every baht IMO. Never see ants any more, or other nasty bugs. the chemicals they use these days do not affect our pets, birds, or even lizards (which I quite like to watch).

 

If it bugs you...consult your local pest company. Peace of mind. Smaller houses won't cost as much of course.

[Speedo1968]

I use talcum powder from the 20 baht shop, and "No" perfume does not seem to be important.
The powder can be sprinkled or puffed anywhere.

[jvs]

We have different kinds of ants,at least 5 kinds.The little red fire ants are the worst!

When they bite you it hurts!

I use Chaindrite when ever i see them,they will kill any baby animal they can get close to.

We have lost baby chickens,rabbits,budgies,canaries,pigeons and ducks.

It is a constant struggle to stay ahead of them,all cages are imbedded in water and you always have to be on the lookout for any plants that they can jump from.

I hate the little buggers.

 

[actonion]

I dont mind a few Ants, after all they clean up after us...But this morning walking my dog in the village where we live,  the 3 roads i walked were  infested with Cockroaches running zig zag all over the place, after yesterdays rain,   hundreds of them..

[bunnydrops]

3 minutes ago, actonion said:

I dont mind a few Ants, after all they clean up after us...But this morning walking my dog in the village where we live,  the 3 roads i walked were  infested with Cockroaches running zig zag all over the place, after yesterdays rain,   hundreds of them..

Maybe Thai "septic tanks" flooding. I have seen them popping out in mass, Looks like a scene from a horror movie.

[lanng khao]

Ars jet gold 3 is the destroyer of all Crawley things ,it comes in a aerosol  nothing is safe especially Mareng sap, those cockroaches with wings.one spray on ants and they  wither and die, tremendous stuff..

[sirocco]

hello,

 

I tried everything, finally I sprayed with the lavender scent and they died in bloom.
If you have a wall outside and can access it, spray along that wall.
Often, all it takes is a tiny slit for them to fit.
Otherwise, spray under the sink.
Fire ants are the worst against bites, even dead ones.

[Andy from Kent]

 

There's a good reason ants have been around for so long.

 

Here's lots of interesting information on their means of survival:

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=how+long+have+ants+survived&oq=how+long+have+ants+survived&aqs=chrome..69i57.6479j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

[holy cow cm]

18 hours ago, tonray said:

If I leave any cat food out for local feral mom and her kitten...if they don't eat it within 10 minutes, it's swarmed.

Put the cat food scraps in a bowl then put the bowl on a large plate that has water. Ants can't get to it.

[emily536]

2 hours ago, Andy from Kent said:

 

There's a good reason ants have been around for so long.

 

Here's lots of interesting information on their means of survival:

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=how+long+have+ants+survived&oq=how+long+have+ants+survived&aqs=chrome..69i57.6479j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Wow,Thank you for share

[PatOngo]

I wonder if the TV IT geeks will get as smart as the ants and fix this topics column once and for all???

[talahtnut]

Ants in UK turn to Islam.

 

[scubascuba3]

It appears i won the battle a couple days ago, they are gone and regrouping I think

[dddave]

Things could be much worst.  All indications in the Eastern US are for a bountiful plague of 17 year cicades as the cycle is due in May/June.  

They resemble the giant cockroaches one sees in Thailand.  I remember the last infestation, so numerous on sidewalks that you had to wear boots and they crunched underfoot.

[tonray]

18 hours ago, actonion said:

I dont mind a few Ants, after all they clean up after us...But this morning walking my dog in the village where we live,  the 3 roads i walked were  infested with Cockroaches running zig zag all over the place, after yesterdays rain,   hundreds of them..

Yeah...those big American Cockroaches lives in every sewer drain in Thailand. After a rain or during rainy season they come out seeking dry land to prevent drowning. Lukily they don't usually nest inside homes. We have storm drains on the side of the driveway and I always seem them in there when I lift the covers to drop some mosquito control in there. Nasty...yechhh

[tonray]

8 hours ago, dddave said:

Things could be much worst.  All indications in the Eastern US are for a bountiful plague of 17 year cicades as the cycle is due in May/June.  

They resemble the giant cockroaches one sees in Thailand.  I remember the last infestation, so numerous on sidewalks that you had to wear boots and they crunched underfoot.

My Mom's cat used to love them...apparently they're a feline delicacy

[owl sees all]

Had a funny think the other day. Was using the computer and Mr Ant walked across the screen. I chased it around with the mouse pointer for 30 seconds or so.

 

Neem leaves deter ants. Best not to hurt them.