ants ants and more ANTS

Those are sugar ants. Terro, which you can buy at the hardware stores and sometimes at Kmart is the stuff you need.

Don't leave any type of food out including fruits. Keep counters clean. This works for me!

RL

I have cleaned with a mixture of vinegar and water which seems to help. Also no food in cabinet or counter or canister. This includes cereal - sugar - fruits, etc. You will end up putting many more foods in your refrigerator.

And having an exterminator monthly will help too, when you find a place to live...

I have very good luck with a spray product called Termidor.
It is what the pros use for termites, ants, fleas and ticks.
You can buy and apply it yourself. You can get it online, at a DIY Pestacides store or even ebay.
Many products such as Raid only kill what is hit by the wet spray.
This Termidor stuff works wet or dry and once a bug touches it and goes back to the nest, the entire nest is eleiminated.
Google it for more info.

goalusvi, I have lived in tropical climates for many years and never use poison to control insects.

Diatomaceous Earth is a fine white powder that can be sprinkled anywhere that insects might walk, and all over your carpets if you have them. It is harmless to humans and animals, and it really works. It will take care of all insects including fleas/ticks if you have pets. If you move somewhere new, it will take about a week to clear up an infestation.

For the kitchen, never leave food out. Store everything either in the fridge or in airtight plastic containers. Don't have dirty countertops or dishes laying around. If you wipe your countertops with a cleaner containing Melaleuca (Tea Tree) it is harmless and will deter insects. You can go online to a company called "Melaleuca" and buy direct from them - I would recommend Sol-U-Mel because it has so many uses, and definitely works. Ants can also be a problem in the bathroom, so I use it there too.

Hope this helps.

If you have something you want to leave out, like a cake on a cake stand (covered), you can set it in a dish with some water in it. They can't swim. I keep my Tupperware sugar canister in a dish of water in case I don't close the top tight enough.

I keep food garbage in a bag on a shelf in the refer.

Thank you for all of your helpful suggestions. I figure if we're running into it now it will be something I'll need to know when we move.

Approximately how much do exterminators cost?

Usually about $30 to $45 a month, depends on the size of your home and the company.

dnt: I hope you all are careful when you raid the fridge! 😀

Hey EE,

Happy Maundy Thursday !

Et tu , dnt!!

Ant Terro is a great ant bait, but is not a barrier type pesticide. I also like Spectracide Bug Stop, which I use at home. Bug Stop works effectively for about 30 days. Termidor as mentioned is even better if you can get it. I did not know it was available without a pesticide or exterminator license. Spray where ants come in, pipes, drains, door seals, etc. Terro is good for places you do not want spray on, like counter tops. Terro is a syrup that is dripped onto a square of cardboard left out for the ants to eat. It eventually is suppose to kill the colony. I must have too many ants, they keep coming. Terro worked stateside for me, I just have too many ants from all sides here. Bug Stop works well enough for me now. And keep the counter tops cleaned with Windex! Ants hate Windex.

I HAVE THE ANSWER!!! CINNIMON!! IT'S OK FOR CHILDREN TO BE AROUND AND IT REPELS THE ANTS!! SPRINKLE IT AT YOUR THRESHOLD AND ANYWHRE YOU NEED TO. I LEARNED THIS FROM LIVING COLOBIA SOUTH AMERICA WHEN I WAS A KID, MY MOTHER PUT CINNIMON IN MY LUCH BOX TO KEEP THE ANTS OUT AND ALSO IN THE AREAS WHERE THEY COULD ENTER YOUR HOME.

That would be a great thing, I will have to try it.

What about fire ants? Anyone run into them on island?

Don't you get mosquito's in the standing water.. Only kidding