Osprey - 9-13-2010 at 08:17 AM
This whole little village is being over-run with ants. Don’t know what kind they are but they are tiny black things that don’t seem to bite but they
eat (or use) tree sap, they are farmers who grow little nasty things to eat. They cause a great deal of damage around here killing trees and flowering
plants, ruining any food not hermetically sealed.
So I’ve been after them with powders and sprays with limited success. I find them as they are in a trail up a tree or bush and watch their march for a
minute while I plan my attack. The other day I saw two passing on the trail but instead of the almost instantaneous exchange of olfactory information,
these two were locked in some kind of extended conversation.
I won’t credit Mexican ants with some special ability to recite complicated instructions to one another. I suppose, like most ants, their messages
would be simple vector directions and perhaps a hint at what they were seeking/finding. I know nothing about myrmecology but I do remember learning
that ants have different jobs and live out their lives in that one job slot; drones, scouts, warriors, farmers, court attendants, etc.
I’m going to guess that there are, at times, mix ups about who is who and maybe that’s what I was witness to.
“Go up three branches and take a left.”
“Why are you telling me? I’m a scout. I don’t take orders from drones.”
“You don’t smell like a scout.”
“You better get your sniffer checked bub. Now move along.”
“My sniffer works fine. You don’t even look like a scout. You got papers?”
“Papers? Papers? Hey, who are you? Maybe you’re not a drone at all, maybe a scout checker. You’re supposed to give us a checker odor. It’s in the
rules. What’s really going on here?”
I don’t know how it ended because I sprayed the hell out of them. Makes you think though.
bajabass - 9-13-2010 at 08:28 AM
I cannot wait until I have enough time to contemplate the train of thoughts and
communication among the ants around my house Osprey!
Salsa - 9-13-2010 at 08:42 AM
If you can figure out how to communication with them, you can send them out of town!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Don
Mexitron - 9-13-2010 at 08:48 AM
Love the prose Osprey.
Those are likely Argentine Ants---illegal immigrants!
They are very difficult to control---the best stuff ever was Chlordane but being a DDT relative it was banned. The best strategy is to find their
nests--spraying them out in the open only puts a small dent in the population. if you can follow them back to the nest and inject it with a mix of
hot water and liquid dishwashing soap (ie--Dawn, Palmolive) you can do a pretty good kill and not have to use poisons. Use about a tablespoon per
gallon.
CortezBlue - 9-13-2010 at 08:58 AM
I use a product from home depot that works really well
Andro
It is crushed corn that has been sweetened and poisened. They take it to share with the whole family.
El Camote - 9-13-2010 at 09:19 AM
We have an ongoing problem with the Argentinians here NOB. And they do bite especially if they get in your bed. 
We've found spraying a perimeter of Fipronil around the house keeps them out but I hate to use the stuff. Besides, you have to listen to their poor
impressions of Eva Peron singing "Don't cry for me Argentina" afterwards.
Bajatripper - 9-13-2010 at 01:10 PM
So, Osprey, I guess now we know which side of the DOPER/alcohol equation you fall in
How to murder your Aunts ...errr ants
mcfez - 9-13-2010 at 01:31 PM
1/4 cup honey with 1/4 cup sugar
Microwave this till sugar dissolves.
Add 1/4 cup borax....small amounts while stirring fast.
Use a spoon or two near the ant mound or trail.
Say last prayers to em.
Hold services!
Will resolve your issues!
castaway$ - 9-13-2010 at 03:03 PM
Just sprinkle borax on their trails it sticks to them like shards of glass and when they try to rub it off you can listen to them squeal as they shred
themselves or just spray em with bug spray.
krafty - 9-13-2010 at 03:11 PM
Cornmeal works well also-they take a piece back to their hill and can not digest it-die a horrible painful death-just put wee piles of the stuff
around