| I too, have recently had a problem with ants. I live in Bangor
Maine and I have been finding large black ants on the first floor
of my home and outside on my porch. They are usually all alone.
Early this morning I turned over in bed and was bitten by something.
It was a large black ant with either light brown or yellow stripes
on it's abdomen. It is larger then the others at 3/4 inches
in length and also was all by itself. I have never seen ants
on the third floor of my home only on the first. The darn thing even
drew blood, that is how hard it bit. What type of ant is this?
Is it likely that there are more of them around? If so, what are
the best measures I can take to eradicated them? By the way
I have saved the ant in a jar in case anyone would care to see it.
Thank you Sherry Bangor, Main Steve's Response
It would be my suggestion they place some small wet rice and some
chopped crickets and some applesauce on tin foil (in seperate little piles)
and then watch the ants take the food of their choice back to their nest.
If no ants take the food during the day, they will at night so follow them
back to the nest with a red light. If the ants still do not take
any of these baits try peanut butter and light Karo Syrup. If the
nest is located in the ground you can flood it with copious amounts of
diluted Kleen kill Enzyme Cleaner (8oz per gallon of water) or Kleen Kill
Peppermint Soap (5 oz per gallon of water). If the nest is in wood
you can add 1 cup of borax to the above mixes and spray the nest thoroughly
(caution: borax will kill plants) and/or then fill the cavity with aerosol
foam insulation. You can also sprinkle borax on the bait of the ant's
choice (like you are salting it - then thoroughly mix it in) and allow
the ants to carry the borax bait back and kill the colony for you but this
can take weeks. Be careful not to let any pet, animal or child eat
or play with any of your baits. Ants generally will not cross a line
of lightly dusted talcum powder, medicated body powder, (dry) Tide laundry
detergent, petroleum jelly, perfume, Comet and/or chalk - if one does not
work, try another option. Best of luck, sleep tight and do not let
the ants bite, Steve.
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