Help! ants swarming in my front room

[chilli gal]

Ants have started to swarm coming from behind the fireplace.

Does anyone know what to do - there are flying ones coming up as well?

I've never had ants in the house before and we don't leave lots of sugary things about.

Any suggestions?

Chilli Gal

[smallblueplanet]

I think you need to get yourself some ant powder/killer tomorrow (or if you're organic, then search some of the threads on here for trying different things, ie polenta to make them 'explode'?!) - you need something that the ants will take back to the nest to kill the queen, who once dead the ants will die out too.

We normally try and kill the ones in our greenhouse with boiling water, but I figure that won't help kill the one's you've got!

[Alice]

Oh Yuk Chiligal. I would go to bed and leave them to it and get some ant powder first thing in the morning.

[Dipzy]

I have to agree with you smallblueplanet on the boiling water method. The flying ants usually all swarm one day during summer, guess that is soon. Not much hope for you chilli gal (sorry but my thoughts are with you) but for the rest of us, keep the windows closed!

[Claire72]

This seems to be the year for ants, everyone has hundreds, my compost heap is currently housing a massive ant home! Tesco sells 'ant traps' but not sure how good they are

[lynda66]

they will die with fly spray ...... if you have any....... or you could try hoovering them, if you haven't any killer, hairspray will stop them flying if you coat them in it ... those sticky fly killers will stop them walking... stick them to newspaper and lay them in their path, if you haven't got anything like that, try anything sprayable, and spray them directly (perfume, deodorant, shaving foam? god anything lol if you have nothing, then lock the doors put towels on any gaps ..... and leave them to it for the night

these should help
Ants/Flying Ants

Ants

Ants


and don't have nightmares ..... sleep well

Lynda xx

[Claire72]

Have you tried lighting the fire?

[armadillo]

That sounds like an excellent suggestion! Boiling water definatley good too. I've been getting red ants for the first time this year, nasty stinging things. Have at 'em with a blowtorch say I!

[lynda66]

yeah i'd normally suggest boiling water or petrol ........ but these are in her house lol

[Nicos]

Euuuwwwww...they're on here now!!!!!!!!

[Two_Sheds]

here's a video of how to make organic ant traps: How To Make Organic Ant Traps
use Borax (from any supermarket).

or look here: Pests

[hels]

Hi Im new and this it my first post so be gentle with me.
we have this problem every year ! hoover up as many as you can then buy nippon gel (its in a small tube) put this down out of the way of pets and children . leave the remainig ants to feed on the gel they will take it back to the nest. You need to keep topping up the gel for as long as they will feed from it. I could take a week to get rid of them but the gel does work. you will slowly see the numbers getting less and less.

Hope this helps

[HeyWayne]

I've yet to wear my "ant shirt" :Mens "ant" print casual shirt by "Next" on eBay, also, Men's Clothing, Clothes, Shoes Accessories (end time 14-Jul-08 15:35:05 BST)

I'm afraid to now, just in case I get sprayed!

[shirlthegirl43]

I expect they have gone by now - it is just the time for the new queens to leave the nest. I hoover them up when I get a swarm in the house though it hasn't happened for a few years now since I hit each exit hole with a heavy dose of ant powder.

[Mikey]

Now my mum was telling me last night she had picked up some ant nematodes, which had worked in one of her flower beds. I tend to find frequent digging of the soil where they are has a massive impact, and they pick up their satchels and leave.

I would block up the hole they are coming out from chilli gal.