Well not in the ones I am wearing of course!!

But the locker where I keep my clean undies and other clothes, this is the 3rd time I have eradicated the little buggers, but in a few days they are back again!!!!

Anyone have any suggestions, and please try and keep them clean!!

Sandy

grab a couple bottles of johnsons baby powder and put a ring around your bus, this will keep the little buggers away!

A herb that is member of the mint family Pennyroyal you will probably have to chase up a plant from a nursery and throw the leaves around where the ants are in your pants they dont like it. cheryl

we had some bad ones up north one year so what I did was to sit down and write out a very stern note to them telling them, in no uncertain terms, that their continuing occupation is unwanted and unless they vacated the premises within 24 hours stern measures would ensue! I placed it on the floor of the cupboard and had no further trouble!

We use the Raid automatic dispenser at home. As soon as the can runs out, in come the ants until a refill is set up and then no problems. Should work the same in a van. Planning on taking ours on our next trip. (not the ants)

-- Edited by pricey43 on Thursday 28th of January 2010 01:25:04 PM

And that should give u that ring of comfidance.

ps i use powder to but dont tell Davo

Borax is the base for most ant eradicators, but you need an attractant so the little buggers will come and eat the stuff. In Broome a pest controller used borax blended with powdered, dehydrated sheeps' livers. I added some sugar to the mix, and keep it in the fridge. At the first sign of an ant invasion I sprinkle a tiny amount in their path, and they disappear. Find the nest outside and treat it. Borax will eradicate the colony. There were 3 or 4 ant species in and around my van in Broome. Here in Cairns there are only 2 persistent species which get a regular sprinkle of the blend. The weather also seems to have a bit of a bearing on their persistence and resourcefulness. There seems to be just one ant species which hides in fabric. I don't know if they use the fibres for nesting material or what. I've had them in my towel, and spent the next hour itching after a shower. I admire the little buggers. They are just so enterprising in finding nests and food. It's a pain in the bum that they have to intrude on our lives to do it. All I can suggest is, stop feeding them! Only joking, but it is worth a look around to see where they come from and to where they return with your undies.

heres a couple of recipes I found on the net, these are designed primarily for the household but can be scaled down for van use! Repellent plants Catnip, pennyroyal, peppermint, sage, and spearmint. Tansy which is often recommended as an ant repellant may only work on sugar type ants. These are the ones that you see marching into the kitchen. Barriers Sprinkle leaves and flowers from sage, mints or tansy around the outside of your house or plants that are bothered by ants. These plants can also be used as a living barrier for ant control, bearing in mind that they are invasive in their growth habit and using cuttings from these plants as a barrier is more effective. Vinegar sprays in and around the hose foundation will repel ants. Keep way from the soil and concrete. Lemon juice concentrate can also be used: mix 50/50 with water and spray. Ants will not walk through a line of talcum powder or chalk dust. Diatomaceous earth may also be used as a barrier in and out of the household. Using a silica areogel/pyrethrum spray applied to the base of plants like eggplants and peppers can control fire ants from girdling the stems and killing the plants. This is a good barrier as it stays "put." Caulk all cracks and crevices in the building to deny them access. Be sure to use high quality pure silicone caulking as these are less likely to shrink or crack once applied. Distribute cucumber parings as a repellant. Cucumbers contain a compound known as "trans-2-nonenal" that repels ants as well as ****roaches! Try sprinkling some of those instant grits around the nests. See what happens! For fire ants: We recommend Spinosad or try this: Pour half a cup of Epsom salts into the nest and all around it. hope this helps a little???

I know it's not the kindest way of dealing with ants, but it's a better long-term treatment to get at the colony, not just to keep them out, but to make them relocate to anywhere else but where you are. They do take the borax bait back home to share with everyone at home. The other treatments may keep them out of the van/house, but the little buggers will find a way to you undies, meat, sugar, nuts or biscuits. The talcum powder won't work if you have lots of contact points with the ground through ropes, pegs, annexe walls and skirts. I used grease on the chassis and contact points years ago on another van I lived in near Pt. Adelaide. We were parked in a shed so we didn't use the annexe. Less contact points. Whichever way you choose to go, good luck. They're very smart little critters.

Use" Dead Ant",a drop near entry points and bing ant go..Othrewise a pet Euchinda does the job.Cheers.Ibbo.

Thanks for all your suggestions guys, I will try and see which is the best solution for us to use.

The talcum powder is out as we usually only stay in one place for a couple of nights, depending on Trevor's work, so that would mean a truck load of talc.

Thanks for all your help, as usual a very helpful group.

Sandy

well did you try the stern letter!!!

I am typing it up now Dave, will let you know how they respond.

I told you ants were clever. I've never given them their "marching orders" in writing, but verbally I've let them have it with both barrels on many occasions. May I use your idea Dave, and write the rules for the ants?

my letter was very crude but I am sure you could come up with a much kinder version, I probably hurt too many little ant feelings and ruined a couple for life, if you could put up a "framework of suggestions" as to the nice way to ask our little six legged mates to pack up their overnight bags and leave it would be much better but remember not too nice or they will just laugh at you!

ah "grey nomads" with six legs, have ants, will travel!!

dave06 wrote:

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ah "grey nomads" with six legs, have ants, will travel!!

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All good as long as they keep them to themselves, don't want to share there........:) : ) :)

 

yup we had an ant problem at our last house so we mixed borax and honey they ate it and never to return ?? ive heard they take it back to there nest and it kills them all pretty cool i reckon as there are some darn nasty ants out there bulljumpers are the worst they sting the crap outta ya