I know this subject will have been well canvassed before, so don't moan at me for asking:)
We recently stayed in a C/P and despite doing the usual things (water in trays under feet etc) we have been invaded by large sized ants.
It seems to be impossible to find suitable ant baits in WA (obviously we don't have ants here) - and we don't want to fill our 'van with fly/insect spray all day long as the next gang of ants appears from somewhere.
You used to be able to buy specific ant baits or powder - anyone knows who stocks it now OR is there anyone as old as my mother (93) who used to make her own ant bait with water/sugar and some other common ingredient that she cant now remember which turned into a thick liquid which you left small amounts of in lids around the house (or my 'van) which knocked off all the ants
The Phantom said
06:22 PM Oct 28, 2014
Borax, perhaps
The Phantom
Happywanderer said
06:24 PM Oct 28, 2014
Sprinkle cheap baby talc around all parts that touch the ground, ants don't like crossing it. (wheels, legs etc)
Or try Crunchy Crawlie, name might not be quite right. Bought in the supermarkets where the rest of the bug sprays are. I have it in my locked storage box, never had to use it yet, but will if the need arises.
Onedodger said
07:13 PM Oct 28, 2014
We also had an ant invasion in W.A. this year and purchased some ant rid baits placing them as directed and after a couple of days all were gone.
AntRid is available in most supermarkets.
03_troopy said
07:15 PM Oct 28, 2014
Another vote for AntRid
Bruce and Bev said
07:34 PM Oct 28, 2014
After a lot of mucking round on the Net, it seems the following recipe is the one used by my dear old mother and still used by many today:
2 x cups of sugar
1 x cup water
1 tablespoon borax (boric acid) which should be available in the laundry part of the supermarket if not in the cooking aisle)
Bring to boil for 3 mins (stirring it) and it gets quite thick. Then bottle.
Place small amounts around 'van or house. Best suggestion was either a jar lid or the top of a plastic milk bottle. Ants will take it back to nest and within a few days the boric acid will kill off the ants
THANKS GUYS FOR ALL YOUR SUGGESTIONS - ISNT IT GOOD NOT TO BE ARGUING OVER AVATARS:))))
Cloak said
07:58 PM Oct 28, 2014
I cary a pet echidna for such occasions.
No I don't really.
It's a hedgehog with short legs.
Gerty Dancer said
08:17 PM Oct 28, 2014
Ant sand works. Use it outside the van, close to any ant-holes or along their trails. Its toxic to pets though.
MaryJane said
08:24 PM Oct 28, 2014
I use Hortico Ant and Roach dust for the home garden. Put it around van legs and have used it successfully in a line around the awning when bull ants wanted to get up close and personal. Think I got it at Bunnings... works a treat
Cupie said
08:42 PM Oct 28, 2014
Bruce and Bev wrote:
After a lot of mucking round on the Net, it seems the following recipe is the one used by my dear old mother and still used by many today:
2 x cups of sugar 1 x cup water 1 tablespoon borax (boric acid) which should be available in the laundry part of the supermarket if not in the cooking aisle)
Bring to boil for 3 mins (stirring it) and it gets quite thick. Then bottle.
Place small amounts around 'van or house. Best suggestion was either a jar lid or the top of a plastic milk bottle. Ants will take it back to nest and within a few days the boric acid will kill off the ants
I have used a borax & caster sugar several times with great success.
Always have few lids with the mixture placed in the rear of cupboards & in the ventilation spaces at the outside of the fridge & HWS.
Must try Bruce & Bev's recipe.
Cruising Cruze said
10:09 PM Oct 28, 2014
we have a automatic spray can , you can run them 12 or 24 hrs a day
so far so good no creepers of any sort in the van
Cheers John
Roving-Dutchy said
10:25 PM Oct 28, 2014
I have found Ant Sand to be the most effective available in supermarkets and hardware stores gets rid of ants within a very short time just sprinkle all around the van on or in the van also the area where you are sitting outside, if it rains you need to reapply as it will get washed away.
Cheers
David
Dougwe said
07:09 AM Oct 29, 2014
I started to see these pesky little critters a week ago and sprayed around the edges inside etc and they seem to have gone back to their own home instead of mine.
GaryKelly said
07:43 AM Oct 29, 2014
Try them on a toothpick dipped in chocolate.
banjo said
12:43 PM Oct 29, 2014
Mentioned this here on another ant related thread somewhere, there are two main varieties (many varieties but two distinct types) one type love sugary things and respond well to the sugar borax treatments, but the second type prefer savory, think meat ants.
This second type will not touch any sugary baits.
We had the second type and it took a trip to a specialist and a proprietary spray to reduce and eventually remove them.
I am now paranoid over ants and carry David Greys Ant and Termite killer ( a fairly safe permethrin based liquid) and any sign of ants around the van I spray. It is far easier to prevent than to cure believe me !
We ended up with several nests, not in wall cavities as we don't have any, our van is fibreglass sandwich, but in the water heater insulation, the Truma control box, the toilet hatch door (the only hollow bit on the van wall, our slideout control box, and behind the shower cubicle !
We went through over two months of ant hell !
And as for talc, well the ants in WA ignore it, and walk straight over it ! as a barrier it is next to useless, a Mortein type surface spray is far more effective and residual for several weeks.
Another furphy is ants only come in if there is moisture from leaks etc. we have never had a leak, but we have had ants bloody millions of the little blighters.
villatranquilla said
04:02 PM Oct 29, 2014
we had ants dropping onto the roof from overhanging branches so had to resort to a surface spray especially around the hatches- luckily we carry a ladder . Also another vote for using ant-rid inside
Delta18 said
05:01 PM Oct 29, 2014
Antex is another useful product available from Bunnings & maybe other H/ware stores too.
I know this subject will have been well canvassed before, so don't moan at me for asking:)
We recently stayed in a C/P and despite doing the usual things (water in trays under feet etc) we have been invaded by large sized ants.
It seems to be impossible to find suitable ant baits in WA (obviously we don't have ants here) - and we don't want to fill our 'van with fly/insect spray all day long as the next gang of ants appears from somewhere.
You used to be able to buy specific ant baits or powder - anyone knows who stocks it now OR is there anyone as old as my mother (93) who used to make her own ant bait with water/sugar and some other common ingredient that she cant now remember which turned into a thick liquid which you left small amounts of in lids around the house (or my 'van) which knocked off all the ants
Borax, perhaps
The Phantom
Or try Crunchy Crawlie, name might not be quite right. Bought in the supermarkets where the rest of the bug sprays are. I have it in my locked storage box, never had to use it yet, but will if the need arises.
We also had an ant invasion in W.A. this year and purchased some ant rid baits placing them as directed and after a couple of days all were gone.
AntRid is available in most supermarkets.
2 x cups of sugar
1 x cup water
1 tablespoon borax (boric acid) which should be available in the laundry part of the supermarket if not in the cooking aisle)
Bring to boil for 3 mins (stirring it) and it gets quite thick. Then bottle.
Place small amounts around 'van or house. Best suggestion was either a jar lid or the top of a plastic milk bottle. Ants will take it back to nest and within a few days the boric acid will kill off the ants
THANKS GUYS FOR ALL YOUR SUGGESTIONS - ISNT IT GOOD NOT TO BE ARGUING OVER AVATARS:))))
No I don't really.
It's a hedgehog with short legs.
I use Hortico Ant and Roach dust for the home garden. Put it around van legs and have used it successfully in a line around the awning when bull ants wanted to get up close and personal. Think I got it at Bunnings... works a treat
I have used a borax & caster sugar several times with great success.
Always have few lids with the mixture placed in the rear of cupboards & in the ventilation spaces at the outside of the fridge & HWS.
Must try Bruce & Bev's recipe.
so far so good no creepers of any sort in the van
Cheers John
Cheers
David
This second type will not touch any sugary baits.
We had the second type and it took a trip to a specialist and a proprietary spray to reduce and eventually remove them.
I am now paranoid over ants and carry David Greys Ant and Termite killer ( a fairly safe permethrin based liquid) and any sign of ants around the van I spray. It is far easier to prevent than to cure believe me !
We ended up with several nests, not in wall cavities as we don't have any, our van is fibreglass sandwich, but in the water heater insulation, the Truma control box, the toilet hatch door (the only hollow bit on the van wall, our slideout control box, and behind the shower cubicle !
We went through over two months of ant hell !
And as for talc, well the ants in WA ignore it, and walk straight over it ! as a barrier it is next to useless, a Mortein type surface spray is far more effective and residual for several weeks.
Another furphy is ants only come in if there is moisture from leaks etc. we have never had a leak, but we have had ants bloody millions of the little blighters.
Antex is another useful product available from Bunnings & maybe other H/ware stores too.
Cheers Neil
ps: Hi Barry & Jen.