ANTS how do you get rid of them?

lilly31 · Guru

ANTS how do you get rid of them?

the rocket · Guru

Hi Cruising Granny,

I have never taken any notice.

The van has been sitting empty for months. nothing for them to eat. so presume they do not like the rain and have made the van their home.

ad: does that mean they are different to honey eating ants?

-- Edited by the rocket on Friday 23rd of March 2012 01:11:17 AM

the rocket · Guru

Hi Everyone, we have ants. We tried the baits where they take the poison back to the nest and this did not work. have tried talcum powder but we are looking for a more permanent solution. With all this rain seems our van is a pretty high and dry place to make a nest or two. We seem to have a real colony. Any advice on how to get rid of them permanently.thanks everyone. rocket n strop

Firefly · Guru

The only thing I have ever found that works for a good period of time is the good old fashioned Ant Rid mate.

Won't fix it for good but keeps them at bay for months here.

Cruising Granny · Guru

Are they sweet eaters or meat eaters?
They're persistent little buggers.

DellieMay · Senior Member

Ant powder,{dust} works for us too. Every time.

the rocket · Guru

Hi Wombat, tell your cousin to come to my place today before I go to Bunnings and there is a feast fit for a king anteater waiting for him/her. regards rocket n strop.

hangon a minute, putting an anteater in the van would be a more environmentally friendly option that ant rid poison. smile smile smile rocket n strop

-- Edited by the rocket on Friday 23rd of March 2012 09:28:31 AM

Vic · Guru

Vic wrote:
Another one for the Ant Rid inside the van (the liquid stuff, leave on a flat plastic lid or similar) only thing that seems to work for me. Someone I knew had them where they had made a nest inside the walls of their van and this was the only way they got rid of them.
Other stuff (ant powder/surface spray) under the van/wheels etc as a deterent if no rain etc.

I have also had those bolt on plastic feet on my stablizers that have water dam in them to fill, work well and pour a little baby oil or similar on the water so it doesn't dry out too quickly (evaporate). Now ants will also get in from your jockey wheel leg, power cord, water hose and electrical cord as these provide a "ladder" for them.

I always used surface spray on these items to prevent this (have also used baby powder around the tyres (and yes, ants will climb them) and jockey wheel, but if you are happy using surface spray for that and the other items then you don't need it.

Remember also that ants will drop off trees onto your roof if you are parked under one, especially if there is a breeze blowing or a small branch is touching your roof.....Also, if you have an awning or annex up, they will climb up the walls of an annex or if only an awning, the poles and ropes of an awning......(I didn't use my annex but sprayed my poles and ropes.....)

-- Edited by Vic on Friday 23rd of March 2012 09:55:16 AM

Vic · Guru

Another one for the Ant Rid inside the van (the liquid stuff, leave on a flat plastic lid or similar) only thing that seems to work for me. Someone I knew had them where they had made a nest inside the walls of their van and this was the only way they got rid of them.

Other stuff (ant powder/surface spray) under the van/wheels etc as a deterent if no rain etc.

jonathan · Senior Member

.. I use both Ant-Rid and Ant-dust powder too .. both work for me, but if I'm stopping for more than 24 hrs, I will also sprinkle (baby) powder around my wheels and anything else that may come into contact with the ground .. they dont like to walk through a powdered surface as they cant follow 'tracks' that may have been left by others before ..

If there are no ants about anyway, then at least you have nice- smelling tyres ..

Jon

lilly31 · Guru

jonathan wrote:
If there are no ants about anyway, then at least you have nice- smelling tyres ..
Jon

And well all need that dont we Jon .... LOL

fireheart · Senior Member

Jonathon, what a wonderful idea, another thing to add to the toolbox, and I love the idea of nice smelling tyres as one travels the highways and byways.

Ants are resourceful little buggers and even here at home the only thing that I have found to deter them is the Ant rid powder. I am amazed at where they are at times. No sign of anything and suddenly there is a trail. Had not thought about ants on the road though.

PeterS · Senior Member

Jonathon does the sweet smelling tyres make the road kill taste any better?

PeterS · Senior Member

When I had a caravan used to wind the stabilsers down in small cups of water, even the jockey wheel used to sit in a bowl of water and talc powder all around the wheels. Never had ant trouble in the van. I did see at one time at a caravan show plastic feet to fit to stablilsers with provision for filling with water just for this purpose.

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

You need to find out where they are getting in and sprinkle the dust around that area, and use ant-rid liquid type.

Have a close look at your tyres, you will find that the ants are not getting in this way, they do not like walking on rubber, from day one of our caravaning I have put a strip of old truck tyre innertube under each leg and the jockey wheel and have not had any ants, the only place you do need to watch is the electric cord cos they do tend to run up that when you are not looking.

Having said all of the above I think you are cruel wanting to kill the ants, what is my cousin the anteater going to do if you kill all of his/her ants, the anteater will then die with nothing to eat, so leave the ants alone you murderer. biggrin

petengail · Guru

I would be looking for a secondary reason. We had a really bad ant infestation and found that we had water ingress and had some rotten wood which the ants were nesting in and feeding on. Once we had that fixed we had no more ant problems. Cheers

Vic · Guru

The person that I knew had a coaster bus and the ants had set up inside the space between metal panels of the wall. The liquid killer did the job for him.

barina · Guru

I use the Mortein bombs at home and never have any creepy crawlies.........

Happywanderer · The Master

I don't think it would be too safe letting off a Mortein bug bomb in a van Judy. When I thought about it someone told me not a good idea as such a small space.
I used Napthalene flakes in a ring around my van last year when we had the mouse plague, kept the mice away and I'm sure any colds as well. it was so strong, but worked. Wonder if the ants would like to walk over that.

pricey43 · Guru

We use a Raid automatic dispenser in the van as well as at home. Natural ingredient. Only time we have ants inside is when the can runs out. Great for keeping out those tiny little bugs that inundate at night.

tezza · Senior Member

If they are truly persistant as they appear to be I think the first step would be to have them identified (catch a few on some sticky tape). The dept of agriculture in WA does it so would try equivelant body in your state, and the identifier will then more than likely be able to reccomend a suitable treatment. If you have been doing much travelling it is possible that they are not "local" ants but freeloaders picked up along the way so will react differently to the various baits and sprays. I have found a product called 5star available from rural supplies stores to be good. As an added bonus it will last as a contact barrier against flies, spiders and most other creepy crawlies for some months.

Cupie · Guru

My homespun solution is to mix borax & caster sugar. I tried this after using all the commercial stuff without noticeable success. Works for me.

I put the mixture into plastic screw on jar lids that are then stuck to the floor with a mix of honey & borax.

The lids are placed in out of the way spots like on the floor under draws, in the rear of the fridge enclosure & HWS compartment, under the sink, under the en suite vanity cupboard, in the hideaway linen cupboard.

I also put a sprig of bay leaves in all drawers & tape a leaf inside the lid of screw top containers of flour, sugar etc. Keeps out all weevils & other bugs.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Try this, it works.

Ant sand like mentioned above is good too.

Get rid of the little buggers (ANT RID)

2 CUPS OF SUGAR
1 CUP OF WATER
2 HEAPED TABLESPOONS OF BORAX

Allow to boil for 3 minutes, then store in jar or similar.

Place small amount on tinfoil or small plastic lids in the path of ants.
No not spray or kill while they are feasting, let them take it back to their nest.

BINGO dead ants.

jack biggles · Senior Member

First you nasty lot park a great big rig on top of their home, probably crush dozens to death as you skew your wheels as you park.....then you set out on a murderous rampage killing the poor little creatures with no regard.

I dunno, what has this world come to ????????????

jonathan · Senior Member

PeterS wrote:
Jonathon does the sweet smelling tyres make the road kill taste any better?

Hmmm .. still need lotsa chilli though ..

Jon

jackd · Newbie

Try this product from a company called Ecomist. I have used it in my house and Van and guarantee that it works. The link to the website is

http://www.ecomist.com.au/page/insect_control.html

It works using a spray unit. The stuff that comes out is safe around food and is the only product that can be used in industrial kitchens. It also works on all flying insects as well.

I hope it helps,

johnq · Guru

petengail wrote:
I would be looking for a secondary reason. We had a really bad ant infestation and found that we had water ingress and had some rotten wood which the ants were nesting in and feeding on. Once we had that fixed we had no more ant problems. Cheers

Agree.

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

jack biggles wrote:
First you nasty lot park a great big rig on top of their home, probably crush dozens to death as you skew your wheels as you park.....then you set out on a murderous rampage killing the poor little creatures with no regard.

I dunno, what has this world come to ????????????

another great comment Jack

I'll keep this one in case I need it

http://www.ecomist.com.au/page/insect_control.html

Thanks jackd

Gerty Dancer · Guru

We use as many ways to get rid of them as we can all at the same time.

Ant sand works, and would be very suitable for a stationary van. Be careful of pets though, its toxic to dogs and cats.

Ant rid works too, but doesnt seem to be as reliable. Its also goo to make sure theres nothing to attract them, ie put your jam in an airtight jar and clean the drips off the outside.

We have never had any luck with those bait things or talcum powder, once the ants are in.

The blighters walked up on the outside of the water-hose into the van once so we tied the hose so it went into a bucket of water en route. They cant swim!

Vic · Guru

Ant rid (liquid) worked for me on the inside, it is not meant to be an outside product unless under shelter, good idea to put some on a lid on a bench or something when you store your van.

Here are the Ant leg attachmente for stablizer legs, available from any camper store or dealers store.

Put a bit of kero or oil on the water to stop it from evaporating too quickly especially if it is windy, see;

http://caravansplus.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=6209

-- Edited by Vic on Saturday 24th of March 2012 10:04:13 AM