Small black ants

Question

We are finding small black ants on our counter every morning, they have no trail, just seem to appear out of nowhere. I've put cotton balls around with oil of peppermint and has helped some. Any natural forms of prevention available .
They don't get in food just crawl all over.

Kathy Grandjean · Answer

take a small jar lid....put a mixture of baking soda and sugar in the lid...the ants will be drawn to it and will eat the mixture...they will die because they can't burp.

Janet Pizaro · Answer

Try wiping your counters down with 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and water.Do this several times a day. Ants do not like the smell.

Clematis · Answer

I read somewhere that if you sprinkle grits (that's what you americans call milled maize I think....) the ants carry it home, eat it and burst.... end of ants. I haven't had need to try this since it's winter here in SA but definitely will when summer comes and ants start bothering again. What's cool is that its non toxic for us or our pets so you can sprinkle them near where the ants come out of the ground.

Amy · Answer

I had the same ant problem in my kitchen. I finally watched one ant and found out where they lived....in a plant saucer. Tossed the plant but still saw ants. Small Terro gel pack from Home Depot did the trick in just a couple days.

DORLIS · Answer

Just make sure if you use poisons, you have no pets or small children who being curious might get them in their mouths. Could make them sick or die.

Lus2122838 · Answer

Borax and icing sugar equal parts. One week later no ants

Teri · Answer

I had this problem as well. Tuck some bay leaves around your counter (ants hate them!) My ants were coming in through the dishwasher so I just put some bay leaves between the dishwasher and the insulation and no more ants on the counter.

Bertie Loftin · Answer

I have found that Diatomaceous Earth kills ants within hours. I bought (at Lowes) Crawling Insect Killer, a 2# bag for $9. Great price. Kills all kinds of creepy crawlies, safe around pets. It took less than 14 hours to wipe out tiny black ants, as well as a mound of fire ants. You could put it on the counters before bed, and I suspect that you'd take care of that ant problem by morning. Just be sure to thoroughly clean your counter before preparing food. You will find it in the Pest Control/Weed killer section.

C · Answer

It depends on how they are getting in as to what you use to keep them out. I had some coming in thru electrical plates on the wall. Sprinkled cayenne pepper on counter edge under them and never saw them again. They often come in thru edges around dishwashers, which are harder to treat, but like teri said Bay leaves often do the trick. They will not cross a chalk line and will stop coming back if you draw a line with kid's chalk. Wiping counters/walls/dishwasher often with vinegar/water (50/50mix) will block the ant's strong sense of smell so whatever was attracting them is no longer calling to them and wipes out their established trail for others ants to follow.

DORLIS · Answer

tHANK YOU EVERYONE. i HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE LARGE BLACK ANTS BUT I THINK THIS SHOULD WORK FOR THEM ALSO. NOW I NEED TO GET A SUPPLY OF ALL THESE AND PUT THEM ALL AROUND THE HOUSE JUST TO MAKE SURE I GET THEIR ENTRANCE POIKNT.

Judy Capone Mantell · Answer

Cheap baby powder also works. They leave within 10 minutes. I removed the electrical outlet, poured some in the wall and they never came back. I sprinkle it wherever they show up and off they go.

Crystal · Answer

I am going to try it. Does it also work for big black Ants?

Sue Ann Means Grover · Answer

cornmeal or ground up popcorn works as well. they take it back to the nest and they all eat it, but they can't digest it.

Debbie/Dragonfly Treasure · Answer

packaged cornbread mix that says it is sweetened and put it where they are coming in if you can find it, or even on your counter in a small lid. They will take it to the mound, everyone will eat it and die, they can't digest the cornmeal, but will take it because it is sweetened. Little goes a long way.

Small black ants

Suggested Project Book

Don’t Throw Away That Oatmeal Container Before You See These 14 Idea

Other

More

Small black ants

Suggested Project Book