31 replies to this topic

[lbeachstace]

It is highly concentrated and fairly easy to work with.

 

Highly concentrated = more appealing to the ants?

[gcsnelling]

Potentially, but one must keep in mind that even sweet loving ants go thru periods when they need a higher protein diet which is why baits which incorporate a protein component often work better. In addition ants eventually will get the hint that a certain resource is bad and will avoid it.

Edited by gcsnelling, July 28 2019 - 9:27 AM.

[lbeachstace]

I've heard both of these things.  Yet everybody, including an online shop that sells the commercial products, recommend the sweet traps as being most effective.  This is counter-intuitive to me.  I had heard that during mating the ants sought a higher protein diet but I don't know the validity of the info.

 

So if Terro didn't work (they weren't at all interested) and peanut butter traps mixed with Terro liquid didn't work, what conclusion should be reached?

[gcsnelling]

I've heard both of these things.  Yet everybody, including an online shop that sells the commercial products, recommend the sweet traps as being most effective.  This is counter-intuitive to me.  I had heard that during mating the ants sought a higher protein diet but I don't know the validity of the info.

 

So if Terro didn't work (they weren't at all interested) and peanut butter traps mixed with Terro liquid didn't work, what conclusion should be reached?

 

 

Well that is easy, try something else. Before you ask, experiment, get creative, think outside the box a bit.

[lbeachstace]

 

I've heard both of these things.  Yet everybody, including an online shop that sells the commercial products, recommend the sweet traps as being most effective.  This is counter-intuitive to me.  I had heard that during mating the ants sought a higher protein diet but I don't know the validity of the info.

 

So if Terro didn't work (they weren't at all interested) and peanut butter traps mixed with Terro liquid didn't work, what conclusion should be reached?

 

 

Well that is easy, try something else. Before you ask, experiment, get creative, think outside the box a bit.

 

 

Of course, and that would be a simple matter if it was at our own home.  This is at tenant-occupied property, so I need to be efficient and don't have the luxury of constantly going in and out to conduct a bunch of experiments.

[PacificNorthWestern]

you could conduct them all at the same time, make some protein traps, and some sweet ones. That way they have an option.

[lbeachstace]

Yes - we tried that with leaving out -

 

1. Terro baits

2. Peanut butter mixed with terro

 

They didn't seem to line up for either.  I've heard that grease is another potential option ... anybody have a famous grease recipe that ants love to line up for?

 

Or is the common denominator potential the presence of the boric acid?  I guess I could test that by leaving out something sugary with no boric, but not ideal.

[Acutus]

BACON!!! you get the grease and you get to eat the BACON!! WIN WIN! 

[lbeachstace]

Haha!  I can't believe we've got to cook for our ants!  

[ANTdrew]

Just a warning about Terro; I tried the stuff to eliminate odorous house ants that were invading my kitchen and threatening my colonies. It may have helped a little bit, but I ended up attracting other species from outside (Crematogaster) and now I can’t get rid of them either.

[lbeachstace]

Thanks for raising that point.  I would expect that is a risk with any bait.  You're basically putting out food for these guys ... but can end up attracting others who also like the same food ... and perhaps others who like the same food but are not impacted by the boric acid ... 

[Acutus]

One Day I gotta ID the ants that come in my house but the Terro takes care of them. It can take a week or more of constantly rebaiting but it works!

Problem is people, like my wife, can't stand to let the ants alone while they're taking the bait. Just leave them be and fewer and fewer and then none will come.

 

I also don't put s couple drops on the silly card. I fill water bottle caps with it and fill them up everyday.