Red ants

P

Pogue Mahone

Well-known member

Apr 30, 2011

10,732

• Jul 5, 2015

• #1

The garden is full of them, and they have a bite that wasps would be proud of.

How do you get rid of them? Without also damaging people or other small animals?

NSC always has the answer, so who is the red ant expert?

 

Chicken Run

Member Since Jul 2003

NSC Patron

Jul 17, 2003

18,420

Valley of Hangleton

• Jul 5, 2015

• #2

Boiling water

 

Dolph Ins

Well-known member

May 26, 2014

1,525

Mid Sussex

• Jul 5, 2015

• #3

Boiling water works as long as you can get at the nest. Ant powder works and as far as I know is not harmful to anything else. Their bites are a bit special.

 

T

TomandJerry

Well-known member

Oct 1, 2013

11,437

• Jul 5, 2015

• #4

Ant powder and boiling water

 

CheeseRolls

Well-known member

NSC Patron

Jan 27, 2009

5,940

Shoreham Beach

• Jul 5, 2015

• #5

Dynamite should do it, but first remove any people and small animals to a safe distance.

 

The Merry Prankster

Pactum serva

Aug 19, 2006

5,577

Shoreham Beach

• Jul 5, 2015

• #6

Hand to hand combat....failing that boiling water.

 

P

Pogue Mahone

Well-known member

Apr 30, 2011

10,732

• Jul 5, 2015

• Thread starter
• #7

Thanks. Yes...boiling water seems practical. God knows where the nest is, though, they're all over the place!

 

banjo

GOSBTS

Oct 25, 2011

13,243

Deep south

• Jul 5, 2015

• #8

Pick on the biggest one and the rest will run away.

 

Stat Brother

Well-known member

NSC Patron

Jul 11, 2003

73,638

West west west Sussex

• Jul 5, 2015

• #9

Would they be less intimidating if you painted each one black?

 

Daffy Duck

Stop bloody moaning!

Nov 7, 2009

3,824

GOSBTS

• Jul 5, 2015

• #10

You need to convert them to the joys of capitalism first, then they won't be red any more.

Failing that., boiling water. Try to see if you can locate the nest and have your kettle at the ready. They usually seem to have their nests underground, often just underneath the soil.

 

WATFORD zero

Well-known member

NSC Patron

Jul 10, 2003

25,766

• Jul 5, 2015

• #11

Get a few of these

 

Tom Hark Preston Park

Will Post For Cash

Jul 6, 2003

70,126

• Jul 5, 2015

• #12

 

M

METALMICKY

Well-known member

Jan 30, 2004

6,053

• Jul 5, 2015

• #13

Nippon Ant Control System with 2 Traps and 25g Ant Killer Liquid
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nippon-Control-System-Killer-Liquid/dp/B000TAW31A

This stuff is the business. Whatever you do don't be tempted to stamp on all the little buggers when they come swarming to pick it up. The key is is to let them take it back to the nest.

 

BN9 BHA

DOCKERS

NSC Patron

Jul 14, 2013

21,522

Newhaven

• Jul 5, 2015

• #14

Tarmac over your garden, that will teach the buggers to dig up your lawn.

 

HHGull

BZ fan club

Dec 29, 2011

662

• Jul 5, 2015

• #15

Magnifying glass?

 

P

Pogue Mahone

Well-known member

Apr 30, 2011

10,732

• Jul 5, 2015

• Thread starter
• #16

Some brilliant suggestions, and a few that I am tempted to try.

One on one combat sounds good, as does a magnifying glass, or picking on the biggest one.

I'm not painting them black, and I've had the Rolling Stones on my brain ever since reading that suggestion.

My heart wouldn't be in it if I tried converting them to capitalism, as I am left leaning myself.

I am NOT putting tarmac on my lawn!!

And then there are the suggestions that may help me...cheers all!

 

P

Pogue Mahone

Well-known member

Apr 30, 2011

10,732

• Jul 5, 2015

• Thread starter
• #17

Oh, and dynamite, I forgot dynamite! I am searching internet sites right now.

 

Tom Hark Preston Park

Will Post For Cash

Jul 6, 2003

70,126

• Jul 5, 2015

• #18

HHGull said:

Magnifying glass?

Click to expand...

 

Superphil

Dismember

Jul 7, 2003

25,416

In a pile of football shirts

• Jul 5, 2015

• #19

Cypriot style, petrol and a match

 

Pickles

Well-known member

May 5, 2014

1,315

• Jul 5, 2015

• #20

I was listening to an excellent podcast the other week ( 'No such thing as a fish' by the team behind QI ).

They reckon that the reason that the gulls have become more aggressive and bolshy lately is because they're eating red ants and something in the chemical make up is making the gulls pi$$ed

So if you see a gull in your garden, I'd be more worried about him.