Ants ants everywhere.....

[w33blegurl]

We seem to be cultivating the entire south east's population of ants in our garden. There are nests in the cracks in the patio, they are in the lawn, the borders and this evening while planting out my squashes, i stuck my hand into the half empty bag of manure only to find the little b*ggers had made a nest in there as well - and yes I screamed like a girl!!!! It certainly wasn't a dry bag of manure, I thought they didn't like damp places to nest? Is there anyway to start getting rid other than the ant powder which I would prefer not to use and the bait traps which are just not working??? They are driving me nuts, not least because I keep finding them in the house!!! Some days we have loads in the kitchen if they find a convenient crack to come in through!

Help!!

[rogesse]

You have my sympathy! I re potted a mint the other day and found a red ant nest (they bite or should that be spray) and it was icky!

I have tried sprinkling fine semolina with added sugar helpful in the greenhouse. Apparently the worker ants take it back to the 'hive' then feed the stuff to the queen. The queen then swells and bursts so no longer produces ants. Worker ants don't live very long and are useless without the hive - so goodbye ants.

[shirlthegirl43]

Years ago I read that watering infested areas with a dilution of clove oil (one bottle oil in one large can of water) got rid of them.

Boiling water into the nest works too

[Nicos]

I have heard that sprinkling fine polenta grains has the same effect!
Sounds much more friendly to other wildlife than poisons!

[Two_Sheds]

I wouldn't worry about them in the garden unless their excavations are actually harming specific plants, or protecting blackfly on your beans. They are part of the food chain and help to feed other, nicer creatures like green woodpeckers and, er, anteaters

[Nicos]

and, er, anteaters

Ha ha!!..now THAT would be a clear indication of invasive species and glabal warming

[w33blegurl]

Ok...so clearly the only solution is to get a pet anteater!

[weekendwellies]

Ants can sometimes be problematic. I agree with the previous post by 2sheds that if they are not causing damage then leave well alone. They have their role to play in the ecology of the garden. If they are overrunning your garden, as it sounds like they are, then I would get the hose and flood the nests nearest to your house. I have heard that people put boiling water on them, but I don't consider this necessary, as ordinary cold water does the job just the same.

[di]

or protecting blackfly on your beans.

...and there was me thinking they ate the blackfly...obviously why I rarely get more than a handful of Broadies

[w33blegurl]

To be honest, its only the sheer numbers of them that are annoying me, its not like they are red ants (although we have a nest of those in the driveway that is going to be swiftly dispatched), I'm just sick of them being literally everywhere in the garden. Think I'll try flooding some of the nests on the patio and see how I get on!!

[Two_Sheds]

...and there was me thinking they [ants] ate the blackfly...

No, they protect the blackfly from predators, so that they can milk the honeydew from them. Icky little boogers

[binley100]

No, they protect the blackfly from predators, so that they can milk the honeydew from them. Icky little boogers

I've actually watched them fighting off some ladybirds

[di]

Eeeew!...horrid things...I feel less bad suggesting what a friend suggested to me last week....mix some Bicarb of Soda with just a little sugar...they eat it and explode!