Red ants. Indestructible?

[Jimbo]

Hi folks,

My lawn has had a couple of red ants nests in for several years now. I've tried boiling water, bait stations, various granules, baking soda mixed with caster sugar - you name it. Nothing seems to keep them down for more than a week, so my assumption is that the queen is still down there somewhere, pumping out the little red bast*rds and laughing at my feeble attempts to finish her off.

Has anybody got any fresh ideas on how to kill the nests? I know they won't stay away for ever, but it might be nice to go through a Summer without having to destroy my lawn trying to kill them off.

 

[JohnD]

Nippon liquid.

It is a poison in a little plastic tube. It is so delicious that they take back to the nest to share with their friends. It can destroy a nest in less than a week.

Put a couple of drops on a non-absorbent surface such as a coin, lay a few in their traffic areas, replenish daily and after rain.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

baking soda mixed with caster sugar - you name it.

Borax and icing sugar? Works for me..

A 50/50 mix, placed in a washed 2L milk container top, left in a dry sheltered location, along one of their routes.

 

[Jimbo]

Borax and icing sugar? Works for me..

A 50/50 mix, placed in a washed 2L milk container top, left in a dry sheltered location, along one of their routes.

Hmmm, isn't Borax illegal in the UK? I can't see anywhere to buy it without some sort of license.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Hmmm, isn't Borax illegal in the UK? I can't see anywhere to buy it without some sort of license.

Not that I am aware of..?

 

[JohnD]

Substitutes are available but it is no longer sold in household products due to birth defects.

 

[Odds]

You never really get rid of ants: there's always one or two survivors after any chemical holocaust you inflict on them.
I tend to go after them during July, when their eggs are close to the surface and before the air corps takes to the skies.

 

[Mister Banks]

Lucky to only have two ant nests, my lawn breaks out in loads of nests every year. Last year I counted over 10!

 

[JohnD]

You never really get rid of ants: there's always one or two survivors after any chemical holocaust you inflict on them.

Nippon liquid kills the nest.

 

[foxhole]

Nippon liquid kills the nest.

Used it many times , never worked.
Used Ant powder , 100% success .

 

[JohnD]

Works for me.

 

[DiyNutJob]

Dig, flood, throw in pebbles/aggregates/rocks, then cover. You would have ruined their environment. They are temperature sensitive.

 

[DiyNutJob]

Hmmm, isn't Borax illegal in the UK? I can't see anywhere to buy it without some sort of license.

Added to basket with no problems. Maybe show license on accepting delivery?

Not Borax Substitute - Pure Sodium Tetra Borate Decahydrate (Borax) Fine Powder | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Not Borax Substitute - Pure Sodium Tetra Borate Decahydrate (Borax) Fine Powder at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Mike13]

Boric acid works quite well instead of borax.

And Ant powder is usually an organophoshate, as found in russian perfume a few years back

 

[Odds]

Top Ant [email protected]

I prefer powder but for your lawn it'll have to be liquid.
You'll get some of 'em...but they'll be back.