Were those "water ants" you talked about very tiny and move very fast? We have had problems with those too around the kitchen sink and in the bathrooms.
Pain in the butt as when you are preparing food near the sink they will go for it quickly, so it's not only water they're after. If a plate is sat nearby for a minute, they will be in it! They also go into my coffee machine and I prefer my coffee without the small bits in it even though I know it is protein.
Did you find anything effective to get rid of them before the rain started?
Yes HH, two types and the above is exactly one of them. The other type are small black ants that come in through any spaces at the bottom of the doors etc. Bigger though than #1. We've found nothing at all to get rid of the smaller ones, the larger if we made sure no crumbs around on the floor, they didn't appear too often. Now that the rain has started, both gone (for the moment?) The smaller ones are almost impossible to see also as we have black granite tops in the kitchen. Didn't know they were there until they swarmed on to something.
These small ones I'm afraid will be very difficult to get rid of in the long term. They're small enough to get through hairline cracks in concrete and the like. They could be coming from anywhere.
I have started the monthly outdoor house perimeter spraying though, but just this month. I'm hoping over time it will take care of these small guys permanently. Time will tell. Pete
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
The smaller ones are almost impossible to see also as we have black granite tops in the kitchen. Didn't know they were there until they swarmed on to something.
Pete, that's funny! That's exactly how I discovered them! We have black granite counter tops too!
Now if we'd just use black plates and only eat dark or black food we'd never worry about them!
My brain is like an Internet browser; 12 tabs are open and 5 of them are not responding, there's a GIF playing in an endless loop,... and where is that annoying music coming from?
The smaller ones are almost impossible to see also as we have black granite tops in the kitchen. Didn't know they were there until they swarmed on to something.
Pete, that's funny! That's exactly how I discovered them! We have black granite counter tops too!
Now if we'd just use black plates and only eat dark or black food we'd never worry about them!
That is funny! Concerning coffee, we keep it in the frig all the time until ready to use it. Either instant, beans, ground etc., also coffeemate and similar. Sugar in sealed tupperware type things.
I used to put my daughters chewable vitamin on the kitchen counter each morning until we found it had disappeared under a pile of these ants. My daughter is convinced we now have 'super ants' walking around the house waiting to attack! Oh to have the imagination of a child. Pete
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
margaretcarnes wrote:Strangely enough the ants have disappeared again recently, and we've had a lot of rain. So in dryer weather they are searching for a water source rather than food maybe?
Here's some natural deterrents Margaret as a start. Pete
Those ants all head to our place during the rainy weather. Drop a crumb and in a matter of minutes they cover it.
We are on the 14th floor but that does not even slow them up. Have tried to nuke them for a couple of minutes, no effect at all. But the freezer will do them in.
I think it is one of those things we have to suffer with. Don't want to put down any poison as we are afraid the cat will get into it.
Anyone know where we can get an ant eater, it would be well fed.
Mine are the bigger black ones - easy to spot when in the kitchen - and at the moment in remission, although probably not for long as there were plenty in the garden yesterday.
I find the Nippon brand gel is very effective. They swarm round and eat it. Idea being they take some back to the nest which also kills the queen.
Problem is of course there will be many nests, and it does take a few days to get rid of a batch.
I guess because the initial post was about how to save food from weevils, although it probably could be moved to Ask The Expats or similar now; I'm loathe to move it though as it was started by another mod!
