#28242
June 12th, 2005 at 01:32 AM
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OP
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Joined: Mar 2004
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I have just discovered a major ant hill in my yard. These appear to be small black ants. I have thousands of them to say the least. THey have built a hill against my cedar fence and it is at least a foot high and a foot to 2 feet wide. What can I do to get rid of them short of an exterminator? Help please.
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#28243
June 12th, 2005 at 01:55 AM
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Joined: Mar 2004
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Once again, I have double posts. Sorry. But I don't care, cause I need triple help.
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#28244
June 12th, 2005 at 02:24 AM
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Joined: May 2005
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Hi Storm, Im far from the expert, but someone once told me to pour boiling water on the hill. I guess that cooks em up
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#28245
June 12th, 2005 at 03:47 AM
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Get a VERY LARGE jug of bleach and pour the whole thing on it... That's the best advice I can offer unless you want to go to a place like Wal-Mart(do you have those in Canada??) or some place like that and buy pesticide and use it yourself. If you want to stay organic try www.gardensalive.com. I'm not sure if they ship to Canada or not but you can try... GOOD LUCK!!!
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#28246
June 12th, 2005 at 04:16 AM
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Snow Bunny
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Snow Bunny
Joined: Apr 2005
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I had a huge ant hill one year with underground tunnels that came up nearly 20 feet away. Needless to say, bleach, boiling water, none of anything I tried worked to kill off this enormous hill. I finally gave up and called an exterminator.He told me to go to a good nursery and ask them for something should the ants come back in another spot but I can not for the life of me remember what he told me to ask for.
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#28247
June 12th, 2005 at 05:21 AM
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Joined: Mar 2004
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I've heard some of you mention on other threads about Boric Acid. Would this work if I put it around the hill or something?
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#28248
June 12th, 2005 at 06:30 AM
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The Cheetah!
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The Cheetah!
Joined: Mar 2003
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Be careful with the boric acid if you have other animals....it is poisonous.
When I have an outbreak of ants in the house I spray around the base of the home with Diazinon....once again poisonous so be careful. It also comes in granular form which you can sprinkle or place around the hole....make sure to lightly dampen the area after applying. Catlover
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#28249
June 12th, 2005 at 09:13 AM
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Joined: Mar 2004
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Got ya. Thanks.
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#28250
June 12th, 2005 at 02:52 PM
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Joined: Aug 2003
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Are you sure they are not carpenter ants ? You will do yourself a big favor to rid this from your yard ASAP. There may be buried wood/branches in the ground they are using as a nest. I would agree with the exterminator approach because with these chompers your best bet is to go with the professionals , this way you are not over using pesticides and you will get some type of guarantee. Once you stir them up they go on the move and your home may be next on the list . Good Luck
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#28251
June 12th, 2005 at 06:47 PM
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Joined: Mar 2004
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Carpenter ants are pretty big aren't they? These are your everyday little black ant. I agree with the stirring of the pot though. Little devils move fast. I printed an article out about Boric Acid and it says it's safe for children and animals.
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#28252
June 12th, 2005 at 09:52 PM
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The Cheetah!
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The Cheetah!
Joined: Mar 2003
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Boric Acid Under an OSHA Hazard Communication Standard, based on animal chronic toxicity studies of inorganic borate chemicals, boric acid and/or borates are Hazardous Materials. California has identified boric acid as a hazardous waste. The above information is taken from Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) 25-80-2320 (Section 2 and 13) supplied by U.S. Borax Inc. (the major supplier of borax to many industries). [QUOTE] [QUOTE]Boric acid is generally known as a desiccant; in other words, it kills by removing the moisture from the body of the target pests, causing severe dehydration which will affect electrolyte metabolism with the potential of metabolic acidosis. In fact, boric acid is a stomach poison normally ingested, along with the fact that it can also enter the blood by inhalation. Boric acid is an acid. Acid will decrease the pH level with the possible side effects of renal, respiratory, and cardiovascular failure. Symptoms and signs of boric acid poisoning are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, dysphagia, cold sweats, dyspnea, muscular debility, scarlatinal eruptions, subnormal temperature, cardiac weakness, cyanosis, coma, collapse, etc. Boric acid is 3 parts hydrogen, 1 part boron, and 3 parts oxygen. Recently U.S. Borax discovered that boric acid contains traces of arsenic. Before California Prop 65 there were few, if any, human studies on boric acid. When human studies were requested from U.S. Borax they said they were unable to supply us with any at that time. But in the late 1980's they had started doing new and extensive toxicity tests on rats and mice as a result of California Prop 65. As a result of these tests, they discovered a decrease in sperm count and the stopping of fetal and embryonic development in rats and mice. In early 1993, U.S. Borax had asked for, and has received, additional time to complete their laboratory studies from the State of California. Boric acid contained traces of arsenic, a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer. U.S. Borax was able to use the EPA de minimus policy, which accepts that zero is not absolute, but very, very small to remove arsenic from its Material Safety Data Sheet. I personally do not see any risk with the trace amount of arsenic at 1 part per million in boric acid and/or borates if used in an appropriate application method. But, not where there will be constant direct contact. Boric Acid is one of the safest pesticides if used correctly. By Michael R. Cartwright, Sr. Just be careful!
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#28253
June 13th, 2005 at 05:51 AM
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Joined: Mar 2004
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Whew!! Alrighty then. Thanks for the heads up.
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#28254
June 23rd, 2005 at 01:18 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
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I used the boiling water, and it worked, no more ants, but it did kill my grass in the area as well.
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