These mini ants will be the death of me

[Anonymous]

I struggled and struggled last year, picking up every crumb (literally) and spraying the sink with vinegar-water after I dumped anything down the sink, and really they didn't really subside until I broke down and sprayed raid behind the oven, sink, and crack behind the backsplash. I know, I know, we're all doomed to get cancer and autism, but these ANTS my God. I couldn't take it.

So at the first sight of them I sprayed just like last year, and boom a few days later, they are swarming all over my cutting board that I cut my son's sandwich on a mere 2 hours earlier.

Should I brake down and hire an exterminator? Has anyone had luck getting rid of them?

[Anonymous]

TERRO. Seriously, like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Terro-300-Pre-Filled-Liquid-Killer/dp/B000HJBKMQ

First you'll see a surge and then the next day or so they're all gone -- the whole colony.

I'm from CA, trust me on this. This is the only stuff to buy. I won't let our pest guy spray ants, the only thing I'll use is the Terro. No use killing them one at a time as they wander in.

[Anonymous]

I totally, totally, totally second poster 17:57. Terro is the only thing that has working for us. In fact, I am setting out a trap by the sink in 10 minutes.

* the only thing I would add is, don't call an exterminator. we once spent $$ on an exterminator specifically for these sugar ants. All we succeeding in doing was increasing our cancer risk and making the kitchen stink like chemical for the next 4 months. The ants were back within a week. Terro is better, no kidding.

[Anonymous]

Where's the colony? Find it and eradicate it.

I did - no more mini ants.

FWIW, I, too, hated those f-ing ants.

[Anonymous]

I have no earthly idea where the colony is. Thanks for the advice about Terro! I'm ordering it tonight. So those mini ants are sugar ants?

PS reading the hilarious positive reviews on Amazon has really lightened my mood.

[Anonymous]

I have a bug man come for my ants and he uses a borax mix that the ants eat, live for a couple of days, and bring it back to the nest. It has been working pretty well and it is safe while I preggers...

But I hear you on the ants.

[Anonymous]

We tried Terro, but it didn't work for us and we had to call the exterminator. He sprayed and it worked last year. I'm waiting to see them again this year, and if we do, we'll probably call the exterminator again.

I don't love the idea of having him spray but I hate the ants more and nothing else worked (peppermint oil/Terro/etc).

Are they citrus ants? We're in MoCo, and apparently they're common here. You squash them and they smell like citrus.

[Anonymous]

The Terro reviews on Amazon are the funniest thing I've read for a while. Hiliarious!

I'm going to buy this stuff, though. NP here. I've also had some really annoying ant activity. I've had a little in the fall when it first gets cold but this is the first time I've had them in the spring. What's going on?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I totally, totally, totally second poster 17:57. Terro is the only thing that has working for us. In fact, I am setting out a trap by the sink in 10 minutes.

* the only thing I would add is, don't call an exterminator. we once spent $$ on an exterminator specifically for these sugar ants. All we succeeding in doing was increasing our cancer risk and making the kitchen stink like chemical for the next 4 months. The ants were back within a week. Terro is better, no kidding.

Another vote for the Terro liquid ant baits. I tried everything (short of exterminator) and they really do work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I struggled and struggled last year, picking up every crumb (literally) and spraying the sink with vinegar-water after I dumped anything down the sink, and really they didn't really subside until I broke down and sprayed raid behind the oven, sink, and crack behind the backsplash. I know, I know, we're all doomed to get cancer and autism, but these ANTS my God. I couldn't take it.

So at the first sight of them I sprayed just like last year, and boom a few days later, they are swarming all over my cutting board that I cut my son's sandwich on a mere 2 hours earlier.

Should I brake down and hire an exterminator? Has anyone had luck getting rid of them?

I know some people that have the exact same problem - they were told they were a type of carpenter ant and were mainly after moisture (and food as well). Like the ones at your place they were everywhere and would be on a knife, a plate, a cutting board, a glass, the sink, in the dishwasher, in the microwave....all in a matter of seconds.

We diligently sprayed down the counters with 409 after each meal and throughly dried the sinks and counters. Still had a problem with them. Finally an exterminator came, pinpointed where they were coming in, provided some traps, and that was that.

Use an exterminator if you've exhausted all other options. Otherwise, it never ends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have no earthly idea where the colony is. Thanks for the advice about Terro! I'm ordering it tonight. So those mini ants are sugar ants?

PS reading the hilarious positive reviews on Amazon has really lightened my mood.

OP, Target, Lowes, Safeway and HD all sell Terro. Dont order it online.

[Anonymous]

i have the same problem. the only thing is i see there little hide outs ALL over my yard, and i'm assumming my neighbors yard. i've gotten rid of them in the house by using borax mixed with sugar, but every so often they find their way back in. Is it safe to sprinkle borax all over the yard? will it kill plants? should I get an exterminator for my yard (I have a dog and a 5 month old and am wary of the chemicals). they are seriously all over my yard. probably hundreds of little ant hills.

[Anonymous]

We dealt with the last year! I did not allow them to spray inside, but they did outside and found a colony. Killed the colony, but they were still there! Since we did not want to spray inside we just did what we could and rode it out. We put everything that was open in our pantry in Ziploc bags. Made sure we cleaned up crumbs every night. Took out the garbage every night. We sprayed EVERYTHING with vinegar and water. The pest control people said whatever you do, do NOT squish them. They release a hormone summoning more ants to come. What we were told to do was spray lyesol (the yellow liquid 4 in 1) directly on the ant and wipe them up. The Lysol kills them immediately and by wiping them up, you don't squish 'em. We would also spray an area around where we killed in to get rid of the scent trail.

[Anonymous]

FYI--I saw tons of Terro at Mclean hardware at the front door the other day, so at least others have this problem. Also I'm sure it's at most hardware stores.

Also the first review of Terro on Amazon, is hilarious. "Drink, my friends, drink deeply." Ha!

Also, I had a line through my house of ants and after borax and tons of other "safe" but useless methods, one shot of Raid down the line after the kids went to bed was what has kept them away for months now.

[Anonymous]

annonymous I still cannot believe how these tiny lil ants entered my home they are so tiny ya need a magnafying glas to see thru them they look like grains of sand we tried eveything & will probaly try terro if not an exterminator!!!