Big Black Ants!

[JitterbugPerfume]

I am infested with those critters to the point of having to throw away food. I have put everything I can in the fridge .

How can I get rid of them without using poison?

[matcom]

1. ummmm

poison the little fuckers

[JitterbugPerfume]

2. yep

I think I am going to have to use chemical warfare on their little antses

[uppityperson]

3. Are these carpenter ants?

If they are, they swarm in the spring, get all over and in all over for a couple weeks then go away. Unless they can find a place to live that involves soft wood and moisture and then they set up residence. When we get them I vacuum up what I can, block what doors I can, pick them off my face at night when they fall off the ceiling and am really glad when they leave. They are good bird food.

If it is not a sudden thing, not carpenter ants swarming, good luck.

[JitterbugPerfume]

4. yes , carpenter ants

and they are forcing me to get my dust buster out!

[uppityperson]

5. Good. The invasion will last a couple wks, is really annoying though.

They get all over and into everything but aside from the ewww factor, usually don't cause problems like those little biting red ants. And they will go away. Have you seen them emerging from the ground with wings, then flying away? They land and their wings drop off, changing them from fairies back into ants. 1 moment there may be none, 2 minutes later a swarm. Dustbuster is a good idea. I had to keep rags stuffed under doors a couple times to keep them out also. Insect sprayers LOVE this time of yr because the ants swarm and people think "THEM!" and call for spraying. If they last longer than a couple wks, then do a more wide control of them, for now just start thinking up names.

(andy, amy, andrew, alison, adam,...ant)

[Katina]

6. not good at all.

if they are swarming, there is a nest somewhere in your home and it will expand. The ants don't eat the wood like termites, but they will nest in places that have soft wet wood and will cause damage. I've had them and I had to call an exterminator. Then, I had my stairs redone outside since the existing ones were collapsing and the ants had nested in the foundation sill. They had to be exterminated, the wood had to be replaced and then wrapped with aluminum so that the wood couldn't get wet again. Seeing 1 or two ants per day is no big deal, they can walk right in through the doors and windows, but swarming carpenter ants? That's a problem. You need to call someone fast.

[uppityperson]

9. Not necessarily, maybe, maybe not. It depends on if they emerged inside or walked inside, Link

They winter in a protected place then swarm looking for a place to set up their summer home. They might be nesting in your home, or in a rotten log or partially buried piece of wood. Here is a good link with good info about them.

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/housingandclothing/DK1015.html

Carpenter Ants During Spring

It is common to find carpenter ants in homes during spring. It is important to try to determine whether the ants are coming from an outdoor or an indoor nest, although this can be difficult. Their presence is not sufficient evidence to conclude that there is a nest in your home. You may be able to make a more accurate determination based on when you first see carpenter ants. If you find carpenter ants in your home during late winter or early spring, that suggests the ants are coming from a nest in the building. However, if you see activity later in the year, it is less clear if the nest is in the building.

You may also see carpenter ant swarms (i.e. the reproductive queens and males, figures 1 and 4) during spring. Carpenter ants produce large numbers of queens and males during late summer. They emerge from nests the following spring for their nuptial flights. After mating, queens search for suitable sites to begin new nests. Once they land, their wings break off and each queen attempts to construct a new nest.

When carpenter ant nests are indoors, mating swarms become trapped inside. Finding large numbers of winged ants indoors is a sure sign that an indoor nest exists and may give the approximate location of the colony.

Finding one to several winged queens (figure 4) does not automatically mean a nest is present indoors. It is more likely the queens have just mated and have entered the home, searching for nesting sites. Wingless queens (figure 1) found walking indoors are new queens that have recently shed their wings but are still searching for nesting sites. They are not an indication of an indoor nest. (much more @ link)

They are very interesting creatures.

[shanine]

7. Been fighting them all day

http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf678114.tip.html

I've already used the chili powder, pepper, cinnamon, squashing and ant traps.
They seem to walk right by the traps, but they do NOT like lemon!! I used one of the tips from the above url, using lemon dish soap and so far fewer are keeping me out of the kitchen.

good luck

[patricia92243]

8. Vaseline around door and window frames - on the outside of course. n/t

[uppityperson]

10. another link, about Iowa, but somewhat close to you.

http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/1996/5-10-1996/carpants.html

Are they emerging inside or are they walking in from outside?

Good birdfood.

[shanine]

11. Mine are hauling off ladybugs now!!!

Hopefully they are not carpenter ants.

[Kali]

12. I get those - they are weird.

They don't sting or stink, but they suddenly appear to be everywhere (sort of like roaches) and then they are gone...but you never see where they go - they kind of freeze in place. They don't seem to travel in lines like sugar or harvester ants. The usual things like bait stations don't work for them. I ignore them untill they actually get in food then I go on a rampage with a wet rag as hot as I can stand it and wipe them down the drain.

I don't know why I never thought of vacuuming them - I will try that tonight - there are always a bunch on the sink - I suspect they are under my house it is old and the plumbing is too - bet there is a leak in a drain pipe somewhere.