ants
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Brij
- Living the good life
- Posts: 389
- Joined: Tue Apr 01, 2008 12:48 pm
- Location: Ile de France
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I used to just leave a little pool of honey or two near where they're coming from, but away from food preparation areas. That way they eat the honey then go straight back to the nest, instead of swarming the kitchen. But there are 2 problems with this:
1- I never had that big an ant problem, so it might not work if there are huge amounts
2- It's not 100% non-toxic as some ants are stupidly happy enough to dive into the honey and die.
Maybe citronella candles would help? They are brilliant for flies.
1- I never had that big an ant problem, so it might not work if there are huge amounts
2- It's not 100% non-toxic as some ants are stupidly happy enough to dive into the honey and die.
Maybe citronella candles would help? They are brilliant for flies.
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Cheezy
- A selfsufficientish Regular
- Posts: 675
- Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 10:00 pm
- Location: Darlington UK
Ahh ant season its a great indicator of warmer weather and Spring, prepare to answer ant related questions for the next 5 months!
Check the archieves this crops up year after year.
1. Ants in the house
Firstly find out where the nest is or as close to it as you can guess. Hopefully this is outside the house!. As MKG said try to disrupt the trail then a blob of jam does wonders near by (put an empty jam jar on it's side and put the blob of jam in that to keep it dry. It'll keep them busy for weeks). Next make sure all your sweet product jars are clean in the pantry/cupboards and don't leave anything hanging around in the kitchen (like veg peelings waiting for me to take them to the compost!)
You may see the occasional "scout" these are ants just randomly checking out the area, if there is nothing to get they will not send in their mates.
2. Ants in the garden or " I think they are farming aphids/killing my plant"
Yes they do farm, they protect the aphids from preditors (lacewings L'birds etc) and "milk" the honey dew.
Technically they are not harming the plant directly, indirectly the blackfly/aphids devisate your crop.
I think I can firmly now say it has been proven that the above jam jar/jam method in amongst yer veg does change the ant behaviour. They will stop with the protection/milking and go for the easy jam treat. I think they actually regard the aphids as surplus and actually attack them, and or allow the predictors to get them.
Moderators, could be time for this seasonal sticky!
Check the archieves this crops up year after year.
1. Ants in the house
Firstly find out where the nest is or as close to it as you can guess. Hopefully this is outside the house!. As MKG said try to disrupt the trail then a blob of jam does wonders near by (put an empty jam jar on it's side and put the blob of jam in that to keep it dry. It'll keep them busy for weeks). Next make sure all your sweet product jars are clean in the pantry/cupboards and don't leave anything hanging around in the kitchen (like veg peelings waiting for me to take them to the compost!)
You may see the occasional "scout" these are ants just randomly checking out the area, if there is nothing to get they will not send in their mates.
2. Ants in the garden or " I think they are farming aphids/killing my plant"
Yes they do farm, they protect the aphids from preditors (lacewings L'birds etc) and "milk" the honey dew.
Technically they are not harming the plant directly, indirectly the blackfly/aphids devisate your crop.
I think I can firmly now say it has been proven that the above jam jar/jam method in amongst yer veg does change the ant behaviour. They will stop with the protection/milking and go for the easy jam treat. I think they actually regard the aphids as surplus and actually attack them, and or allow the predictors to get them.
Moderators, could be time for this seasonal sticky!
It's not easy being Cheezy
So you know how great Salsify is as a veg, what about Cavero Nero,great leaves all through the winter , then in Spring sprouting broccolli like flowers! Takes up half as much room as broccolli
So you know how great Salsify is as a veg, what about Cavero Nero,great leaves all through the winter , then in Spring sprouting broccolli like flowers! Takes up half as much room as broccolli