Tiny black ants everywhere!
Hi everybody! I've been fighting against thousands of tiny black ants in my home for about 2 months now. After reading several recommendations regarding effective treatments, I decided to use some Terro liquid ant bait traps. I put these out and the ants immediately swarm to them! They parade to the traps for about a day or two, then they stop visiting them. The traps are still full, but ants no longer use them. After about a week or so of limited ant traffic near the traps, they disappear. Not a single ant in sight for about 5 to 7 days. Then, suddenly they reappear in force again! They don't appear to be going after anything in particular and my house is clean (with the exception of dead ants that regularly have to be swept up by the hundreds), but they keep coming back in waves. They come back, I set out new traps, and the cycle repeats. One strange thing is that at night they are more active in a different area than during the day... I have hesitated to call an exterminator because I've read that they usually just treat the area and this only kills the visible ants. In essence, I've heard that the quick-acting treatments they generally use provide immediate, but short-lived results, and ants will almost certainly come back. I have no idea treat this infestation (as I'm more and more frequently calling it these days). Do any of you have real suggestions for dealing with this problem? And please, no folk remedies about using rosemary or white pepper or whatever to keep them out - I want them dead for good. I don't want a band-aid that involves me always having to be on the lookout for their inevitable return! Thank you all in advance for taking the time to read this! I have hesitated to call an exterminator because I've read that they usually just treat the area and this only kills the visible ants. In essence, I've heard that the quick-acting treatments they generally use provide immediate, but short-lived results, and ants will almost certainly come back. Please be aware that the advice about colony elimination, as opposed to the short term results, on the diy sites is, in large part, coming from the pros. Look up the old threads on ant control. That said, continue baiting, keeping it fresh. Sounds like you are doing that already. It is possible that the colony is simply that large. What about exterior ant bait stations with liquid? Is it still warm enough where you are located? Don't spray anything inside as it may kill the ants before they get the bait back to the colony. Typically we don't find many dead ants when baiting, unless something other than the bait is killing them. The ants usually die where they live, when dying from baiting. Usually the colony, at least with the smaller ants, is close to where you see the most activity. They don't forage far like carpenter ants do. Are there any concrete slabs like sidewalk, patio against the exterior wall closest to the activity? Is you house on a slab? These little guys live under slabs. Dead ants are a good sign of positive results, you will win if you persist. Keep us posted. I put out the liquid inside and keep replenishing it as they consume it When they're really bad, I put granules down outside the house as well Sometimes takes me weeks of continuous effort to get this under control Thank you both for your replies! @ PAbugman: I hope I didn't sound like I was putting down exterminators! That's not what I meant at all. I've just read many stories of bad ant infestations being treated superficially with temporary results, and I want to be clear that I want them gone completely and permanently (or as permanently as is possible)! That being said, I probably could have been more diligent in searching for similar threads on this site, but I did a quick look-around when I first joined. I understand it's very frustrating for members to have to post answers to questions more than once in forums - I'll check it out again - thanks for your advice. In response to a couple of your questions, though: I've used baits outside, too, with generally about the same results as when I use them exclusively inside. I live in Houston, Texas, so it's still fairly warm around here (and humid). I don't spray anything on the ants, because as I've said, I don't want to treat the problem...I want it fixed. So, I've tried to persist with the liquid bait. As far as a slab outside where there is activity - yes, there is a small slab right outside of my back door where I see them the most (during the day). As I stated earlier, they are more active in my living room at night, though, for some reason. Finally, yes my house is on a slab. I'll keep on doing this for as long as it takes, but I've already been at it for a couple of months with no signs of it working (aside from the consistent ebb and flow of activity corresponding to placement of new traps every week or so)! Thank you all for your advice - I'll keep developments posted! No offense taken at all. It's apparent that you've done your homework. I don't quite know what to think about the size and persistency of your ant problem. It sounds like you are doing all the right things. You and I are in dramatically different geographic zones, at least as far as insects are concerned. Maybe your colonies are that much larger than ours. Non-repellent sprays are good to use against ants, as they won't work against your baiting strategy, nor repel ants. Ants continue to walk over the residual and even transmit it back to the colony, similar to bait. Trouble is, over the counter sprays/aeros are all repellent. A good example of professional grade non-repellents would be Phantom (indoors) and Termidor (outdoors). Sometimes these can be purchased on-line by anyone. Individual states may restrict their shipping into that state. These would be concentrates that you mix with water. Have you considered going to an agricultural extension office with ant specimens? They will hopefully identify them specifically, then search for them on internet (university sites) and learn their habits. You may get clues/hints that way. Insect ID is paramount to solving unusual problems. Here in Pa. the ag extension offices are staffed/supported by Penn State. Keep us posted, I'm curious. One strange thing is that at night they are more active in a different area than during the day... The night active ants could be a different specie of ant. Have you compared the ants? Again, this is where accurate identification will help solve this problem. Boric Acid, the active ingredient in Terro, does work slow. well,,,,boric acid for ants.....not bad idea....If any one searching organic pest control service, termite control for commercial, residential, natural pest control and domestic pest control they will find in Australia. Can anyone please tell get rid of those tiny black ants coming from under my house. I have a slab under the house. I live in Florida. BUT I have cats so anything you suggest must be pet safe. I haven't applied anything yet except vinegar and water to the areas I have seen them. Not working very well. Terro is safe: Ant Problem? Terro = Ant Control Solutions Vinegar and other repellents simply scatter the ants sometimes causing them to “bud off” into other colonies. Not what we want for sure. The gel and liquid ant baits are very safe and effective, Terro being one of them. Don’t use sprays/repellents when baiting as you will work against yourself. If you see the ants eating, let them eat undisturbed for however long they want to eat. In fact, keep them supplied with plenty of fresh bait. You may need to do this several times over the next year or so, but I’m finding that it does lead to colony elimination. It’s not a bad idea to use both gels and liquid baits at the same time as ants will want proteins or carbs at different times of year. Me, I eat anything at anytime of the year. Keep us posted with your results. I use liquid Terro inside and granules around the house in a perimeter about 5' thick. It can take a few weeks but this always works. Ants are everywhere, don't expect them to stay away if you stop addressing them. Hey Mitch: I suspect you mean 5’ wide, not thick! Otherwise, what does your granule spreader look like? A dump truck? ha, ha Bet you don’t have any ants! Yep, thanks - 5' wide is what I meant. Cripes, I don't have the budget for the amount of material it would take for 5' thick Sorry to bring this back from the dead but having similar issues here in south FL. How did you guys with the ants make out? Roachforlife: We are still finding that the ant baits: gels, liquids, pastes are still the best for small ants, not so much for carpenter ants. Don’t spray or contaminate the baits and baiting areas with sprays as you will be working against yourself. Baiting works slow so that the foragers can take it back to the colony and get it spread around. Be patient.
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