In article ,
Bill wrote:

In article , "OhioGuy" wrote:

Temps here in Ohio have gone up into the upper 80's suddenly, and there
are loads of ants in our house. More specifically, there are loads and
loads of tiny 1/8" long ants, primarily in our kitchen and bathroom. These
are the ones that normally seem to be after sweets or grease.

I first noticed them in the bathroom, on the kids toothbrushes. They use
a kids toothpaste that is a very sweet gel kind with sorbitol, so I got rid
of that. It didn't stop the ants. I finally noticed they were also
congregating around the sea monkey container in the kids' room, and I
noticed then that they were going anywhere there was water.

Not only has it been hot, it has also been dry. I think that the ants
finally came out of hibernation, and have been searching for some food, but
especially water for their colony.

The trouble is, it is especially sickening to come in to the bathroom and
find ants all over your cup, your toothbrush, etc. I used to take a drink
at night with the light off, but no more. I'm afraid I'd be drinking ants
along with the water!

I've tried spraying Diazinon outside the house along the foundation,
wherever I see a little line of ants. It works a bit, for perhaps a day at
most. Maybe this is because the Diazinon is water based, and not as strong
as the old stuff I used to have.

I've also caulked wherever I see them coming in, but they always seem to
find a new place. If memory serves, their numbers will dwindle with time,
but it still doesn't help much knowing that right now.

Can anyone recommend something we could use to get rid of these buggers?
I've tried ant traps with poison, but they don't seem interested at all.

If you have a basement. Oil of pennyroyal 3 or 4 eye dropper amounts
place on your sill. Won't kill the ants just drive them out. Good for
a year or two.

Bill

This oil of pennyroyal is strong stuff. On second thinking I'd say
smell it and consider if you want to smell it for a few months. This in
your basement that could infiltrate your living space. So if inclined
error on too light.

Powerful stuff .

Bill

--
Garden in shade zone 5 S Jersey USA

Not all who wander are lost.
- J.R.R. Tolkien (1892-1973)