I don't know for sure but I believe this was a colony of Harvester ants. There are the characteristic three trails and it is not really mounded, rather kinda flat in a wide open sunny location.
Three days ago I poured a 1 liter bottle of Club Soda down the hole in the ant den and today this is what I found when I went to check on it.
I've not heard of the club soda method! I have successfully used the boiling water method. Also successfully used the granular molasses method but it takes longer for the ants to leave!
Oh, and thank you! I decided that instead of opening another Cubit, I would just put everything here. I seem to have a little bit of this and a little bit of that but not enough of any one thing to support an entire community.
As soon as time allows, I will post before and after pics of my gardening projects...I have made some real progress in the last two years!
sounds good. I understand about starting another whole deal... I've veered off a bit on my garden cubit too! Look forward to seeing your progress!
I think I had to pour a lot of water, maybe even more than once before getting rid of those ants. They probably opened shop somewhere else! Now that we've moved them away from the house I don't care so much...just wanted to be able to sit outside without them biting us!!!
You can find granular molasses at the feed store. The basic premise is that the molasses will improve the soil which ants do not like. plus the sugars break down proteins..the ants store food, namely protein such as larvae, and they will freak out when their food starts breaking down before they get to eat it... I don't know, sounded good to me!
Cool! Sounds good to me too - the next time I have an ant issue I will give that a whirl. I have those little bitty ants that like to come in the house but I have taken care of that problem with the use of Essential Oils, had to have something "non-toxic" because of the little guy. He is two now and in to everything!
Hey ladies, just popping in to see the ant solution. What kinds of oils do you use on those sugar ants enidcandles? Does it worrk good? I fight those suckers every year. Hi Wildflowers fancy seeing you here. I heard to put corn meal on the outdoor mounds but keep forgetting to try it.
I've used the cornmeal before, it seemed to work some, but never really got rid of them completely (although our main objective was to get them away from the house so we could sit outside without them coming up and biting our feet). It's supposed to expand inside the ants, killing them. i think I read to put the cornmeal nearby the mound, without disturbing it, so the worker ants would signal to get it.
Howdy gals! I have heard the cornmeal thing too but only tried it inside...did absolutely nothing that I could see. I sprinked it around the window sill where the little guys were coming in. The ants walked through it but it didn't slow them down any.
I believe it is peppermint that ants dislike! I know mice hate it...let me double check on that and I will get back with the essential oil info in a few.
Yup, it is peppermint! There are others that will work also; the oils do not kill the ants but it keeps them away. I have a problem with those dang gnats that like to hang around wet plants so I have stones with camphor oil on them sitting around...haven't had a problem with ants trying to get inside since.
I also made a mixture that keeps flies from entering the house, I have only had three flies all year and we have a two year old and indoor dogs; seems the door is open ALL the time! The even better part of that is, if you spray it on yourself, the bugs don't bite. Our major problems here are buffalo gnats, mosquitos and biting flies; keeps them all at bay!
Like you ladies I just want to find something that really works and don't like spraying chemicals on my counter tops. Endi do you just sit a cap of peppermint oil on counters every three to five feet or so?
No, and I don't know if that method would be very effective for you. I mix peppermint essential oil (and ususally other EO for good measure) with vodka and water and put it in a one ounce spray bottle. I know, that is easily said since I have the oils and bottles here. I very rarely use any of the oils without diluting them in one form or another first, the pure form can cause skin sensitivity and can be toxic to animals as well as humans if consumed.
I know my sister sprayed wd40 on the wood that her humming bird feeder was on and ants quit trying to take it over. That stuff isn't dangerous like you would think its only mineral oil mostly. Think I'll try spraying some on back of counters, I'll let ya know if it works. I love the essential oils Indy. I like those bottles with sticks that you keep flipping over, they can smell up a room quick. ( sorry can't think of the name of them), daughter buys them a lot.
Enid I can remember flippy sticks Do you have a website of your goods that people can log in and browse to see what you have?
Anyone else logging in don't listen to my wd40 advice it has warnings on the can to not get around food or pets. I read that other stuff somewhere else. I just know a little but not a lot about anything
The heat here has slowed the little pests down and I'm not seeing them now. I will remember the pepermint oil when they start up again. Hi Wilds, hope you are staying cool. I here Don is sending you folks some much needed rain Whooo Hooo!
The store is a complete - incomplete disaster at the moment! I am working on it though. If only I took good pics, had 48 hrs in a day instead of 24 and never needed to sleep I could get more done. Every time I try to do something in the store the 2 yr old wants to play or eat or needs his diaper changed. If not him then the dogs want in and out 52 times an hour LOL - no wonder I get nothing done!
I understand about starting another whole deal... I've veered off a bit on my garden cubit too! 
Look forward to seeing your progress!
