Is there a way to get rid of ants without killing them?

Post Reply New Topic

Ants are making lots of ant hills outside our house in the cracks between our walk way and drive way.

I find it a more dilemma. I don't commit violence or kill things unless i absolutely have to . I fear eventually their make their way into our house :s

I actually don't think so.

I hope people with more knowledge of this issue could chime in.

Put a trail of sugar to your neighbours house and they will have likely moved over there after a week.
Failing that just dig up the hills and move them to somewhere else.

Every summer we had ants coming in by the kitchen window. I heard somewhere that ants won't cross a chalk line, so I drew a thick chalk line on the house below the window. It worked. The ants stopped coming in.

No. I have had ants come in where I've lived tons of times. Most of the stuff they say works does not. They will come in if they are close enough, and once they have made a trail for others to follow, they will just keep coming.

I don't like to kill things either, but it's necessary at times. I just do what I have to even though it bothers me. If they haven't come in yet you could spray your house to keep them out. That way the whole colony won't die, just the ones that try to get in.

Ants are either after protein or sugar, depending on the time of year. They may come in your house looking for one or the other.

Carpenter ants are the ones that can destroy your house, and those I'd be worried about most.

If they can't find food near your house they won't bother with it. So clean out side and yes do use detergent or something.

_________________
( If I ignore a reply it's not intentional I get distracted, send me a PM to prompt me )

(shouldn't this be in random discussion )

_________________
( If I ignore a reply it's not intentional I get distracted, send me a PM to prompt me )

The ants might be causing emotional distress.

Ants are attracted to locations by the way they smell. The scent of sugar is an especially powerful attractant. Spilled sugar or sugary crumbs will attract ants, even if those crumbs are too small to be seen by a human. Cleanliness is essential for driving away ants.

Ants also use the sense of smell to track each other. There scent is acidic. An alkaline substance will neutralize their scent. This is why the heavy chalk line worked - chalk is calcium carbonate, which is an alkaline material. Strong detergents are also alkaline. Use lots of strong detergent (un-scented) to clean the kitchen, pantry, and any area where food is eaten (and crumbs are dropped). This should drive those insects away.

This has to be the most exciting conversation I've ever seen about ants.

sly, what these folks have suggested works. Hopefully the ants will move further away from the house if you apply everything right.

When I lived in the San Francisco Bay Area, I learned that the whole Bay Area went through periods where the nearby mountain ants would seemingly swarm residential areas. Like all living things, they search out fresh water. Once they find it (seasonal rain or creeks), they are satisfied. I like the candied-diversion idea, but I wonder if sharing a little more water with them might cause them to return deep within their colony.

Rains all the time in Oregon.

I don't like the idea of mass murdering ants by the millions

I'll try the chalk and see if that helps

I don't get why they've travels so far to my house to make a home in the crack between concrete walk way :s

I guess they like your barbecues.