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Post by spinifex on Dec 23, 2019 16:05:14 GMT 10
Anyone else experiencing extraordinary population explosion of tiny black ants? I've never even seen 1/100 as many as have been terrorizing our outdoor areas over the last month.
They are like millions of insurgents streaming along a vast network of tinu Ho Chi Minh trails everywhere I look. Can't stand still outside for longer than 10 seconds without having them start crawling up our legs.
I subjected them to Linebacker II type operations today blanketing much of the yard with heavy chemicals in an effort to stem the invasion ... but just a few hours later it already looks like they've made good their loses.
What does it all mean?
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bug
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Post by bug on Dec 23, 2019 16:09:57 GMT 10
Little terds have been getting into my nectarines. Thanks for reminding me to find the antrid.
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Post by SA Hunter on Dec 23, 2019 21:15:51 GMT 10
Not in my neck of the woods!
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Post by Joey on Dec 24, 2019 15:54:09 GMT 10
I've had probably millions of them marching along my kerb for a while so last week I went out with the ant powder and put some down every so often and followed the lines back to their nests and powdered them too. Next day all gone. 3 days later back in just as many numbers again At least they aren't inside the house
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Tim Horton
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Post by Tim Horton on Jan 1, 2020 13:00:20 GMT 10
I suspect it means you have the right combination of hot and dry ground and other conditions it takes to let them flourish.
We get ant hills in the bush and around the buildings that have been a meter high, a meter and a half wide and two and a half meter long. We had one sneak in by the brooder barn about half the size of a 55 gallon drum. This one I took care of by pouring a 4 liter of liquid ammonia followed by a 4 liter of bleach down the center. Then cover with a small tarp. In a day or two it was done for. Be SURE to stand up wind as you pour the chemicals in.
For smaller hills, around the edge of buildings and such I use a mix of half table sugar, half Borax laundry powder. It may take 3-4 treatments, but you will get them.
The bears will dig up ant hills to eat the bundles of larva.
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bug
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Post by bug on Jan 1, 2020 13:21:26 GMT 10
In general I don't mind having ants around. It's when they get under the concrete and undermine it, or get inside the house that I draw the line.
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