JellyBean2605 Posted May 12, 2014 Share Posted May 12, 2014 We have been invaded by ants! I spotted some this morning and came home to a whole trail of them on the window ledge tonight. Tried to get the girls to eat them but they weren't interested (too well fed I suspect) so I'm looking for a deterrent. One thing that is mentioned a lot is cinnamon so I've raided my spice collection and sprinkled powdered cinnamon on the windows - looks a right mess but if it works I don't care. Has anyone got any tried and tested remedies for the little blighters? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted May 12, 2014 Share Posted May 12, 2014 Nippon. Apparently diatom (diatomaceous earth) works on them too, but I go for the good old Nippon gel when they're in the house - outside the house I don't worry about them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted May 12, 2014 Share Posted May 12, 2014 Dethlac is the best I've found, but it doesn't deter them it kills them. I read though that ants eat red mite, so if you can encourage them to take a route round your coop that would be good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 Nippon, salt or Diatom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 I had a serious ant infestation in my kitchen last year. It was horrible... I was sucking those crawlers at least 3 times a day with the vacuum cleaner. First tried to just keep them out, by putting sticky tape over all the cracks and holes near the window. But they just found another route in. Tried cinnamon and baking powder, but nothing worked. In the end I got one of those little ant boxes, which has poison, they bring into the collony. Worked like a charm and they were gone within a day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 I used to have horrendous problems with ants in my old house - they found a way in under the lino by the back door and were a complete nightmare in hot weather. I didn't like the idea of killing them if possible, and was told to try talcum powder - I put quite a thick layer at the foot of the door frame and some under the lino and it did seem to work, seemed to just stop them coming in rather than killing them and as long as they stay outside I leave them alone ... Might be worth a go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 I agree with the talc suggestion. If you have nothing else in your house to use, it will deter them as they won't cross a line of talc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 We invariably get ants in the house in the summer. I have tried many things to get rid of them. Nippon as mentioned is good but I am not so keen now I have the dog sniffing around. More recently I have used Antstop bait stations. They are small round containers that only have small access areas for the ants to go in so I feel are safe to leave on the floor. I spotted a few ants a couple of weeks ago put these down and the ants have gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 Another bait station fan here - we get them through the kitchen window every summer and, at the first sighting, I put a bait station out and it stops them in their tracks. Nice and secure too, if you have animals and/or children! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gertie Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 I had a terrible infestation in my 1st floor bathroom last summer, complete with flying ants and everything. I traced where they were coming from & swamped the whole area with diatom (I have 3 cats so couldn't use chemicals) & left it for a week. They evacuated & didn't return! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redbug Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 I use Nippon liquid in a bottle top..... keep filling it up. line of ants for a day or so then none. Works well for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kissinuk Posted May 14, 2014 Share Posted May 14, 2014 We use the organic ant powder if it's in the house or around the girls (it's non toxic). Also, if you know roughly where the nest is then nematodes are great. https://www.nematodesdirect.co.uk/9-nemasys-no-ants Note, I've never actually used this company but it's the same product (Green Gardener also sell them). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
