Ants !

[Cruisin Cat]

Hi all,

I have a problem on my boat with an increasing number of very small pale brown ants. A couple of months ago there were just a few around the galley occassionally but now they seem to be roaming all over the boat...not yet huge numbers but none the less annoying little buggers!

I tried ant baits but they won't go in them at all....not just annoying, but also clever little buggers!

Appreciate any suggestions on how to get rid of these ants?

[JusDreaming]

if you place boric acid/comet cleanser across thier path they will be gone!!

[JanetGroene]

Mix 20 Mule Team Borax (which is very cheap and also a good laundry aid) half and half with sugar. Wet a sponge(s) and dip in this mixture. Place in areas where ants travel.

[Adamante]

Originally Posted by Cruisin Cat

Hi all,

I have a problem on my boat with an increasing number of very small pale brown ants...

Thor Heyerdahl noted that when halfway across the Pacific on his Kon-Tiki voyage, large numbers of small ants began swarming out of the damp balsawood logs and tormented the crew. Are you sure your boat is not made of balsa?

[perchance]

Get rid of the dog and buy an Anteater he said facetiously.

[janice142]

In the states, you'd go to your local pharmacy/drug store... in the back where they have the cleaners you'll "almost" miss (if you're not careful) a small (think 2" high by 1" wide) bottle of TERRO Ant Killer.

I've found it at Walgreens and CVS. It's about $3-$4 and one bottle is two life-time's supply. You'll put a single drop (it's thick like syrup) on a penny where you spot the little critters. Two days later you pick up the pennies and wash 'em off.

You're done, and so too are the beasties. We call them sugar ants. I've got a bottle that's 2/3rds full and have used it for over ten years. It works.

Good luck, and happy cruising.

[s/vfootloose]

TERRO Ant Killer is great for sugar ants. Sugar ant nests can number in the millions. Put a couple drops on whatever and keep adding a couple of drops until they stop eating it. It can take a while but it does work.

[DeepFrz]

Just so I understand this correctly, but isn't Terro a mixture of Boric acid and sugar? So what is the advantage over the Borax and sugar recipe as posted by Janet?

By the way, we found that cleaning up all the old wet rode that was lying in the bottom of one of the cockpit lockers and washing the lockers got rid of the ants.

[roverhi]

Don't know how Amdro would work in a boat as it's meant to be spread on the ground but it might be worth a try. We spread it around the house when the ant's attack and they are soon gone. It's been over two years since we've seen an ant inside the house. AMDRO - Ant Block Home Page

Terro works on small infestations but didn't keep them away permanently like Amdro.

Too bad the EPA banned the good stuff. Arsenic mixed in sugar and water used to stop them dead. Don't know why they banned it.

Have to be careful with ants. I've had them set up house in electronics like a radio and muck up the interior so bad they destroyed.

[osirissail]

Originally Posted by s/vfootloose

TERRO Ant Killer is great for sugar ants. Sugar ant nests can number in the millions. Put a couple drops on whatever and keep adding a couple of drops until they stop eating it. It can take a while but it does work.

I agree, I tried everything with very little success until I was told to try Terro which comes as a little bottle of liquid and small cardboard squares. Put a drop of the liquid on the square and leave it where you see the ants. They disappeared on my boat.

[osirissail]

Originally Posted by roverhi

. . . Too bad the EPA banned the good stuff. Arsenic mixed in sugar and water used to stop them dead. Don't know why they banned it. . . .

(Sorry can't resist a great straight line) The banned because too many aunts and uncles and obnoxious spouses were also being "stopped dead."

[Cruisin Cat]

Thanks for your comments everyone

I'm currently in Grenada so may not be able to buy products like Terro, etc
Should be able to get boric acid or borax....may even be able to get arsenic

[osirissail]

Originally Posted by Cruisin Cat

Thanks for your comments everyone
I'm currently in Grenada so may not be able to buy products like Terro, etc
Should be able to get boric acid or borax....may even be able to get arsenic

We spent many years in Grenada. We got some while we were there but can't remember exactly where. Did you check all three grocery chains - IGA - FoodFair - Foodland? Also Ace Hardware on the parkway. There is also a good hardware store downtown at the top of Grenville Street (the street that runs above the fresh market). Then there is the home store in the Grand Anse Shopping Mall near the food court & ice cream place.

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by Cruisin Cat

Hi all,

I have a problem on my boat with an increasing number of very small pale brown ants. A couple of months ago there were just a few around the galley occassionally but now they seem to be roaming all over the boat...not yet huge numbers but none the less annoying little buggers!

I tried ant baits but they won't go in them at all....not just annoying, but also clever little buggers!

Appreciate any suggestions on how to get rid of these ants?

Exterminators can exterminate ants. It is the answer.

You can pick up ants any time you're at a dock.

[Cruisin Cat]

Has anyone tried using a fumigating "bomb" on ants, the type you close the boat, let it off and get out for a few hours. I think normally used for cockroaches.

Just wondering if that might also kill ant infestation?