So it's the middle of the winter and we have thousands of tiny ants

[shadowknows69]

that's seem to appear from nowhere anytime there is the slightest crumb on the floor. We've never even had a significant ant problem in the summer before. Anyone else having an early invasion of insects? The human race is in for a fun ride the next ten years I suspect. Nice to be stuck in the middle of it. <Sigh>

[donsu]

1. maybe they are the Fl. Key's sugar ants - teeny tiny

I've noticed the bug population is shifting and in some cases growing.

a man living in Porto Rico was commenting on that in an article I read some time ago.

[shadowknows69]

23. sounds like it

too bad I'm in NY WTF!

[quinnox]

2. yea

I'm going to buy an electronic pest control for them.

http://www.ultimatepestrepeller.com/pest_repeller_ultimate_at.htm

[movonne]

3. I'm in Oregon and yes, this is the first year that we are really having

a problem with ants...Last year they came, put down ant poison that they take back to the nest and they were gone...this year put down ant poison and they stop for a few days and then here they come again...and now they are in the bathrooms and find strays here and there...

[seabeyond]

4. two or three years ago for us. never before, not since n/t

[kestrel91316]

5. I bet you have those damned Argentine ants, that have taken over

and wiped out all the other ants here in So Cal and lots of the US.

They are an imported species with no natural enemies, IIRC. Fancy that.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

11. My sources say that Argentine Ants

aren't in Shadow's area--yet.

You may find this information interesting:

When Argentine ant colonies are eliminated, new colonies may quickly take their place. Effective management programs should : 1) correct conducive conditions and seal possible entries; 2) find and treat existing colonies; 3)apply perimeter treatments; and 4) use baits.

Conducive conditions would include mulch around houses and areas where moisture collects, like around a leaky gutter, and where they can find the sweet food (honeydew--not the melon--the juice that plants exude when they are nibbled on by aphids---that's right, the presence of a lot of ants could indicate you have sickly plants!).

Professionals may have to drill small holes in your brick or siding to inject powder to get rid of colonies existing in wall voids. And realize we pros can get stronger products than you can--but you can try OTC sprays--just read and follow the label correctly. If you decide to bait as well, DO NOT spray insecticide over the bait--ants won't eat it. Use Diatemaceous Earth for an organic solution.

[kestrel91316]

30. I just gave up and started using Raid kitchen ant spray every couple

of months and am much less stressed now, lol!

[hunter]

29. In some ways they are very different from the original Argentine ants.

Separate ant colonies don't compete as they do back home in South America. Instead neighboring colonies will merge and obliterate the native ants, especially in environments disrupted by humans.

I never see the sorts of ants I remember as a kid in urban or suburban areas of California. The Argentine ants have taken over.

The population at my house seems to be limited by some other factor than food or water. The ants come into our house only rarely -- they've probably learned that large incursions into the kitchen will be greeted with the vacuum cleaner, and scouts will be eaten by the spiders. There are more certain, less dangerous food sources for them elsewhere.

So long as they stay out of the house and don't aphid-farm our fruit trees, I let them be.

[kestrel91316]

31. I remember big black ants. And big red and black ants. And medium

red ants. And it's been YEARS since I have seen any of them. They are all gone.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

6. Yes

ants have started to come out, probably because of the strange weather pattern. I am a licensed pest control tech, and perhaps I can help you.

It is possible that what you have is an Odorous House Ant, which lives in your neck of the woods. You'll know they are because when you crush them they emit a rotten, coconut-like odor when crushed. They prefer sweets, but will eat grease and high protein foods as dictated by colony requirements. A colony can have 100,000 ants, and can come from outside or have satellite nests in wall voids around water pipes, hot water heaters, and sinks. Nests outside are usually under objects. They enter houses when weather is extreme.

Here's how to control them: Locate the nest by following the trail of foraging workers back from their food source. We use controlled use pesticide but I would recommend you use Diatemaceous Earth (ground up fossilized seashells)--its like a powder and is safe to handle and cheap (about a buck a pound; you would need maybe 2 pounds for a major infestation). Spread it around the nest and dust voids in your house. It works by cutting the shells of the ants rather than poisoning them.

Hope this information helps. And if the ants are a different kind, let me know in the next hour or so. I'm at work and have the reference books here where I can look up the information.

[asjr]

7. Our house has had an influx of

ladybugs. Never happened before. I spend most of my time picking them up gently and putting them back outdoors.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

12. Do they have what looks like the letter M

on their heads (or W if you look at it from the other direction). If so, you have Asian Lady Beetles, which are an import. Read more about them and see a photo here:

http://www.attackthebugs.com/Bugs12.html

[AlCzervik]

8. i have an ornamental plum tree in my back yard, it started blooming a month ago

it has no business doing that, normally it shouldn't start blooming until april.

[RebelOne]

9. What's strange is that I would always be invaded

by ants in the spring and summer. Last year I did not see even one ant.

[UTUSN]

10. I've suddendly got Leafcutters, harvesting (at THIS time?)

There's a regular Amdro that works with fire ants and a green label Amdro that works with the leafcutters (I hope).

My cape honeysuckles planted last year were just coming up beautifully, waist high, when last week BAM!!1 The leafcutters from a huge mound next door set up a parade to ATTACK one particular one overnight. The next morning it was stripped nearly bare. There was a two lane PARADE of the critters, one coming, one going. It was a merry parade of them going, each with a piece of leaf or a pice of bloom. It's hard to be mad at them, they're so MERRY!!1

A nursery person told me that "the leader" decides which plant is the target and gives the order and BAM!!1 The rest just go THERE!!1

This is sounding too political.

[TygrBright]

13. Totally unscientific, but...

...we used to have a nearly constant ant problem. I switched from store-bought cleaning products to white vinegar diluted with water for wiping down counters on a regular basis. I still sometimes use highly-diluted bleach when I really need to disinfect, or citrus-oil based degreaser when that's a problem, but for day-to-day purposes I just spray vinegar/water and wipe with a clean rag.

Ants gone.

I have no idea whether there is a connection.

thoughtfully,
Bright

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

14. There is

I'm a PCP (Pest Control Professional) and commercial cleaning products often have a sweet scent. Most ants like and are attracted to sweets.

[NNN0LHI]

15. I have had some success using TERRO liquid ant baits on sweet ants

They still seem to come back occasionally (maybe once a year) but a dose of that stuff for a week or so usually keeps them at bay pretty well. I think they are in one of my walls?

Would you suggest a professional if they persist or am I on the right track with these little buggers if you don't mind me asking?

Don

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

18. If you have to mess with ants in walls

it is better to call a pro, because they should know where to drill so that it won't mess things up too badly and will take care of the problem. A pro can identify the type of ant, and will have an idea where the nests are.

If you don't want any drilling, try baits--but remember not to spray over a bait because the ants won't touch it. If you do use baits, you can find that for a day or so you have more ants around--baits contain a slow acting poison, and this is what you want--more workers taking the poison back to the nests in the walls and other hidden places.

[NNN0LHI]

22. Thank you very much

The baits do get really active for a few days and then poof they are all gone in the morning when I wake up. Seems like the period from when they disappear to when they come back again is getting longer and longer. It has been well over a year since I seen them last. It was more regular when I first began fighting them a few years ago. They are persistent though.

Thank you again for the help.

Don

[wryter2000]

16. I've had them since last summer

Tiny California ants. They're harmless but a real mess. Normally, we get an invasion and then they change their minds and go outside again. I've had them continuously since July. Very weird.

[underpants]

17. Here in Va. too. I've been meaning to ask about this

I have done everything possible 5 times and they still keep coming.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

19. Ok, here's some general things you can do for ants

1. Observe the ants. The workers follow a scent trail from the nest to the food. If you see them, watch where they are going. That way you can find nests.

2. Clean up the area. Most nests outside are where there is mulch and moisture. Dead trees can also be a great ant habitat. You can even have a colony in your crawl space if you have a leaky pipe.

4. Most ants naturally feed on honeydew, which is the juice from plants that have been bitten by aphids, white flies, and other small insects. Check your yard for plants that are sick--they could be attracting the ants. Also ALWAYS check any plants you purchase and plant outside or bring inside.

5. Use diatemaceous earth. It is a white powder you can get at nurseries or health food stores. It is ground up fosselized seashells--and when bugs of any kind crawl over it, their shells are cut and they dry out and die. I recommend this to a homeowner because it is natural and can be put on plants, is relatively cheap (we buy a 50 lb bag for under $35 wholesale), and relatively safe (no Danger label--just a warning about the dust that billows out when you pour it out). It can also be used inside around pipes under sinks.

6. Make sure you have cleaned up inside, too. Ants generally like grease and sweets-so you have to clean up. Move welcome mats so that moisture isn't trapped underneath them, and clean out trash cans so that bits of food don't remain on the side to attract the ants.

[wryter2000]

28. Thanks for the tips

I used to just wait them out, but it looks as if they're going to stay put.

[Rosemary2205]

20. This has been a 20 yr way of life for me in Atlanta.

I finally resorted to insecticides. I tried everything else recommended by everyone, by the web, you name it we tried it. Once we finally broke down and started "Raid"ing the house every 30 days and putting Triazide granules around the house it stopped within a month. I hated to resort to poisons but when a million ants show up in your bed and in your laundry it's time to give up on the natural remedies.

[Javaman]

21. Train them to be your servants and dominate the world!!! nt

[shadowknows69]

24. I would but they listen even worse than my new dog

But I'm an old "Ant-Man" comic fan so me and Dr. Pym will figure it out eventually.

[Parche]

25. AUNTS

Do they look like this????

[HuffleClaw]

26. well, its better than thousands of MONSTER ants

they could ruin your whole day.

[canadianbeaver]

27. Borax and icing sugar....mix and spread around area....

1/4 cup borax and 1/2 cup sugar....they end up taking it to the nest and it kills them off....eom