"Steve" wrote in message
...
Diana Kulaga wrote:
Bob & Sue, I hesitate to use the borax cure because our cat goes out
into
the lanai.........................

I was thinking that
1 Cats wouldn't be interested in eating borax and
2 Borax wouldn't be really toxic to mammals anyway.

I did a quick search to see if I was right about the toxicity and found
this:
*** Terrestrial animals: Borax is practically nontoxic to birds and
mammals. It is relatively nontoxic to bees. Relatively high
concentrations of boron compounds are toxic to insects, and borax is
used for insect control in some cases. ***

That information came from he
http://infoventures.com/e-hlth/pestcide/borax.html

The big surprise (to me) was that borax is a fungicide. I've known, for
decades, about it being used on ants but never knew it is sold as a
fungicide.

Steve

Thanks, all. I'll try the borax/wax along with the ant bait traps I already
have out there. And yes, Sue, they are also up high. I think they're having
drag races.

Diana

On Sun, 03 Jul 2005 19:28:34 GMT, "Diana Kulaga"
wrote:

Thanks, all. I'll try the borax/wax along with the ant bait traps I already
have out there. And yes, Sue, they are also up high. I think they're having
drag races.

Diana


There was a whole piece on ant and borax in today's Post. I will
have to look at it again. But it sounded much more work than
either misting them and sprinkling borax or the wax borax.
SuE
http://orchids.legolas.org/gallery/albums.php

On Sun, 03 Jul 2005 17:15:12 -0600, Susan Erickson
wrote:
There was a whole piece on ant and borax in today's Post. I will

Ok so it was the Longmont Times Call -- but from Newsday -
" Got Ants? Get Grits. That's the advice from S.C. - Uncooked
straight from the box. Sprinkle around the anthills.. a few days
later they are supposed to vanish. Boric Acid commonly was used
as and eyewash years ago and is available at many pharmacies. It
can cause eye and skin irritation.

If not -- Boric Acid ant trip + mix 1 cup sugar, 4 teaspoons
boric acid and 3 cups water in large container. Pack small jars
with cotton balls or wads of toilet paper, then fill the jars
with the mixture. Punch holes in the jar lids and screw them
back on the jars. Place near ant hills or burry the ant trip
jars in the soil near the hills allowing them easier access.

Yeast ant trap = Mix 1/3 cup molasses, 6 tablespoons sugar and 6
tablespoons active dry yeast into a smooth paste. Spread the mix
on plastic lids, and place near ant hills. For ant problems
inside the house spread the paste on cardboard and place near
places they travel.

Boric Acid mint jelly + Mix 1 part boric acid and 2 parts mint
jelly or cracker crumbs. Place the bait in jars with holes
punched in the lids.

Borax ant traps = Place 2 cups of sugar, 2 tablespoons of borax
and 1 cup of water in a saucepan. Boil mixture 2 - 3 minutes,
stirring often. Let it cool then place the mixture on plastic
lids and place the lids near anthills and areas they frequent.

Borax is a laundry booster and cleaner that was popular in the
50s & 60s and sold as 20-Mule Team Borax. It can still be found
in the laundry aisle.

The article finishes with diatomaceous earth can be sprinkled
along the foundation, indoors and out to kill a variety of
insects... including ants. If all else fails - boiling water is
a good last resort especially for ants. Pour boiling water over
the ant hills. won't work if in your orchid's pot but the
thought counts. Tansy plants naturally repel ants and other
crawling insects Tanacetum vulgare should be raised in large
containers. It is hard to contain and is very invasive in beds.
It attracts ladybugs and lacewings two insects the feed on a
variety of pests, including ants.
SuE
http://orchids.legolas.org/gallery/albums.php

Thanks Sue, for those ideas.

Diana