Ant abatement - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Nate Stanley · #16 09-19-2014, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobK

The EPA does not like DE. Has been pushing pools to stop using it for a long time. When we built our new pool we switched over to High velocity sand filters from Vacuum DE filters. I always liked the DE filter. Seemed to "polish" the water. Not good to breathe the stuff.

I guess that's why it works on the ants...

Can't Know · #17 09-19-2014, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobK

My biggest worry with any chemical means is that I don't want it hurting any of the birds that may eat the ants (although the birds are doing a lousy job of controling the ants right now). The tree rats and the feral cats are welcome to dine on the poison and go away. I just want to keep the birds. Yes I am even willing to deal with the bird poop on my cars.

If you sprinkle just a little of the Amdro granules around their anthill opening, the ants pick it up and immediately carry it inside. It gets fed to their queen as well, so the colony dies off very quickly. I've never seen an ant go off with it away from the colony, so I don't know how birds would get it unless they tried to eat it themselves, so you could control that by simply not putting much down and then turning a shovelful of dirt at the anthill, burying the granules.

It's really amazing how fast the stuff works.

Diesel911 · #18 09-19-2014, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elchivito

Sounds like carpenter ants to me.

These Ants are tiny and brown slightly much more then 1/16 inch long and the Fit the description of the Argentine ones.

Also they are definitely every were like the Trash can and you cannot lay a Towel on the Lawn and lay down without eventually getting bit.

I thought that the Ants were in the Walls due to the Termites. I can only hope that the Ants eat them so there is some benefit to having them.

The Ants that used to be where I live in another City were just as tiny but were Black and I even though I used to dig their Homes Up and Ants got on Me when I was a Kid and I was never bit by them.
　
Then there was the Native Red Ants; not the Fire Ants and those were the only ones is unless you go up to the Mountains. The Red Ants both bite and sting.

elchivito · #19 09-20-2014, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobK

The EPA does not like DE. Has been pushing pools to stop using it for a long time. When we built our new pool we switched over to High velocity sand filters from Vacuum DE filters. I always liked the DE filter. Seemed to "polish" the water. Not good to breathe the stuff.

It's the pool grade stuff the EPA doesn't like. It's heat treated and has high levels of micro-crystalline silica. It's carcinogenic. Food grade DE is listed by the FDA as safe for indoor and outdoor use. I have a powered backpack duster and use DE to fog my pens and loafing areas when the flies get real bad during our summer rainy season. I wear a dust mask as the stuff is no fun to breathe, but it won't cause long term issues. I buy food grade DE in 30lb. bags through my feed store.

MTUpower · #20 09-20-2014, 10:48 PM

anyone tried baking soda mixed with powered sugar?

Since66 · #21 09-21-2014, 09:13 PM

Vinegar sprayed on kitchen surfaces seems to be a good repellant. I wonder if a solution of diluted acetic acid would have the same effect on larger surface areas.