Q: We are under attack from Argentine ants. Do you have any suggestions for getting rid of these creatures?

A: The May rainfall affected ants in two ways: it flooded their nests and it slowed their foraging for food. Little wonder that you find them in your home, looking for something to eat and a place to dry out. They come in through cracks beside your doors or windows. You can get partial relief with a well-aimed caulk gun.

I don’t like spraying chemical poisons in rooms where I eat or prepare food. I much prefer ant bait products. Several commercial ant baits are available. If you use them, place the bait near ant access points or near an active ant trail. The gel-type baits are particularly easy to use and are very effective. They can be squirted into cracks near doors and windows, outside or inside. The ants are attracted to the bait and take a stomachful of poison back to their mound.

You can try making your own ant bait by mixing 4 tablespoons of peanut butter, 6 tablespoons honey and three-fourths teaspoon boric acid. Place small amounts in areas visited by ants but not readily accessible to children. You can make a small feeding station by putting bait in a plastic 35 mm. film canister with a small hole bored into its lid. If successful, the bait kills the ants in 10 days to two weeks.

Ants are a nuisance more than a threat to your family. But whether it’s a solitary searcher scouting for food or a line marching from a pound cake back to their nest, ants are not welcome in any kitchen.

MORE INFORMATION

Argentine Ant Control