Ants are invading my bug room!!!!!!!!!!

Trailblazr80

Trailblazr80

Pupa
We've tried sealing with caulk, using Terro and homemade borax traps, and still the ants persevere! I've seen them before in spring and summer, usually in the kitchen or bathroom looking for food and water. This time, they have hit the bug room and set up a trail to my tanks! They are carrying out remains of feeder insects and fish flakes, and I'm worried about some of my less aggressive insects. These ants are aggressive and attack larger insects in droves ( I believe they are the Argentine ants). They have already swarmed my feeder mealworm container and killed several. I tried putting Vaseline around the tops of my tanks and it seems to be working, but is there any suggestions from anyone?

 
maybe put your tanks in water? lol sorry for my horrible explanation, but this woman does it in this vid

 
Argentine ants are extremely common around where I live and can become a regular invader in my house. I've noticed that they will make a path over vaseline with debris over time, so that's only a limited solution.
I've used orange oil successfully to remove their scent trails and I try to line the edges of my room with talcum powder which tends to be an effective barrier for a good amount of time. It's also a good idea to move your containers onto shelves or tables and then put a barrier of talcum powder around the base of the supports or legs to keep them from finding their way up. Moving your enclosures and any shelves and tables just slightly away from the walls and each other tends to help keep the ants from finding alternative ways of getting to your bugs, but you'll also need to make sure that any cords and other items do not make a bridge from the walls and from one surface to another.

 
Get some real ant poison. Terro liquid ant killer will attract them to bring it with them home and kill the whole nest fast.

Don't waste your time with home remedies, Do it like a professional and kill the entire colony. Obviously you tried the other alternatives.

Trust me real insect poison is the best to use.

 
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Ok forget terro, that's for amateurs.

Use maxforce fc it's made by Bayer, it contains Fipronil.

If that doesn't work, then get a good exterminator.

 
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You can't get rid of Argentine ant colonies with pesticides due to the fact that they form supercolonies that can span multiple neighborhoods. You may be able to temporarily evict them from your property with the proper pesticides, but they will very quickly recolonize by moving in from adjacent properties as soon as the pesticides lose their toxicity.

I would also be extremely hesitant to use pesticides due to the fact that there are clearly long-term effects of pesticide usage on both human health and the health of the environment--not to mention the potential for the residues to harm your living insect collections.

 
Hey, thanks for all the suggestions. I'm actually going to try a combination of everything to be on the safe side. I've got my mealworms on a tray of water, Vaseline around the tank tops, I'm going to set out some more Terro baits around the more frequented areas, and try some of the orange oil to block scent trails. I'm also hesitant to use hardcore pesticides or exterminators because of my own animals/insects, and the wildlife outside my house. If I have to, I'll stick all my tanks on trays of water because that does work, just a little messy and tedious of course. These ants suck!

 
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I know you've tried caulk, but have you tried just following an ant trail and finding out exactly where they are entering from, then sealing that hole, crack or crevice?

It's a simple idea, and it will take some time to find every entry way, but it is the only way to keep them out so they stay out.

It would take me forever to seal up my drafty old house.

 
Acro said:
I know you've tried caulk, but have you tried just following an ant trail and finding out exactly where they are entering from, then sealing that hole, crack or crevice?

It's a simple idea, and it will take some time to find every entry way, but it is the only way to keep them out so they stay out.

It would take me forever to seal up my drafty old house.
Click to expand...

Yeah, some of the entryways are very hard to access. I'll have to give the house a once-over again. Right now they've slowed down a bit with the Terro baits, but they will be back. This is the cycle.

 
I have those as well. Thankfully since they are clearly predatory, they have not discovered my critter room. I do not have a problem with them yet, knock on wood. I did on the other hand have the super tiny black ants, which do not appear to be predatory, decide to transfer hundreds of larva to 2 of my tarantula enclosures. While I do not have a problem with waking up to them in my sink apparently feeding off toothpaste and Listerine residue nearly every day, I do have a problem with this invasion! They all perished I can assure you! The tarantulas were fine and apparently unharmed.

Getting to the point though, my wife combats them regularly. She usually cleans them and the surrounding area up with Clorox wipes. They do not return for a while but I think the reason they do not return immediately is because the scent trail they leave is removed. Maybe after you control these larger ants, you can try that? Track their pathways and wipe down determined paths, or go nuts and wipe it all down? I was concerned for my T's and other creatures in that room, but finally decided I had to do it and that was a few weeks ago. The denizens of this room all appear to be fine and, at least for now, the ants and I are at peace, even though they still love the bathroom sink.....

 
Gasket boxes by Sterilite! They're made in the US and will keep out anything and everything. Except being submersed in water, water will start to leak though due to the pressure. I drill holes in the top and cover with micropore tape. Thought I'd mention it.

 
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How big and many holes did you use? And size container?

I would like to know how high the humidity is with the micropore tape, I figured micropore would not be enough ventilation.

If it works well, that would be great!

 
I have about 6 to 10 per container, it's pretty good. I'd recommend the method, especially if you are more neat and cleanly than me.

Peachsuite.com is where I got mine, pack of 6 for around 50 with shipping, they sell them at Wallyworld and Target too. I use 20 qt. You can get micropore tape at a good deal of online mushroom grow supply stores.

 
Thanks for the additional replies! I've just been using the Vaseline around the tops of the tanks, along with a few Terro baits in the most troublesome areas (which are not in the bug room), and so far they are now kept at bay. I've also put my small mealworm container in one of those plastic water retaining bowls for plants, filled with some water so they can't access the worms.

 
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