Please someone tell me how to get rid of this plague of bastard ants

[WhoIsnt]

We've been battling them since Christmas - had 8 different traps down at one time, of three different brands. They seem to die off and then just reappear a few days later with an absolute vengeance so it's clearly not doing the actual nest any permanent damage!!

They also seem to be eating the cupboards so could they be carpenter ants?! (we're UK) -

Has anyone used pest control for ants? Is there a cheaper DIY solution that's worked? I'm jobless at the moment so would really love to explore all the cheaper options possible before forking out...

table salt as a wall for them? Put it in the crevices and break their path?

Flour. I found a crack in the concrete floor in an old shed where they were coming from and put flour down it. No more ants. Felt guilty though as it apparently makes them explode or something like that.

Any bait stations always seem to work for us

Borax and sugar!
I hail from the land of ant infestations. Borax and sugar was our miracle worker. Borax and treacle too (messy but it’ll kill the suckers!).

Sounds like you might need professional pest control to visit, especially if you suspect an invasive ant species.

Diatomaceous Earth powder , you can buy from eBay etc , might be marketed as being used to control mites on chickens , but works a treat on ants . Added bonus that it’s safe for humans , cats , dogs etc . Just needs to be sprinkled everywhere you have an issue . It’s like a talc consistency, so once the problem is solved can be swept up as long as it doesn’t get damp . Can also be used outside , and just reapply after rain .

Ant Stop has always worked for us

Borax and sugar. The only solution.

Weirdly we have had a similar problem this will be the second year. They started appearing on kitchen bench more and more so pets people came 4 days later there's troops of ants again. Anyhow noticed the fine weather there back this year so have to think of the next plan

Can you find out where the nest is where they are coming from? We had a problem with ants once and I found the nest was actually in a pot plant, threw that outside and things calmed down. We now still get the ocassional load of ants but it’s mainly in the summer and they come in from outside

We had a few earlier this year and it was starting to get worse, so I googled it and one suggestion was spraying window cleaner around where you can see them getting inside the house. So I tried that and it seems to have frightened them off. Anything with white vinegar in seems to be the key thing.

Ant bait stations are brilliant ...the Nippon brand ones. Clears up hoardes of them within a day or so.

You need to find out where their nest is or where they are getting into your home. We had the same issue and I had to sit and watch them and you can pretty quickly see where they keep going back to their nest. Once you know, put a load of ant powder (or salt works too) and leave it there for a few days. As long as you don’t have small dc or pets!

I had this in an old house. After a few tries they kept coming back. Then I killed the ants with ant spray and left them there for a few days. Ants are clever and don't go where other ants have been killed. I never had a problem again. However I don't think the infestation was huge.

We put talc around the outside of the house where we think they are getting in

Do you know where they are coming from? I had this once and found a hole under kitchen sink. I put a big pile of honey outside, waited for them all to go to that, and filled the hole. Job done and nobody had to die a horrible death either.

Nippon bait stations always work for me but you have to let them get on with it- don’t kill them when they’re around the bait station as they take it back to the nest and kill the rest.

Thankyou so much - some good suggestions that I haven't tried yet on here - the borax and the diatomaceous earth... I'll go for those next.

Sadly these guys are beyond nippon and bait stations. They're like the SAS of ants, nothing seems to deter them. We tried nippon and they merrily ignored it for 90% of the time, then took it and it slowed them down for a couple of days but that's it!

I actually think they're maybe living inside the walls of the house, as we're in a flat (not ground floor) and there's no clear place they're coming in from outside...

If all else fails I'll have to get help in, but don't have the money spare at the moment so really trying to avoid it if I can help it!

Put down 2 bait stations and leave for a few days, if still there put down 2 more.
The black circular ones with red packaging on amazon are good. Only about £10 for a pack of 2.

Could you borrow an aardvark from a friend or relative?

(You may need a licence for one if in the UK)

I had this last year in my kitchen. I watched them and found the entry point in a crack on the outside of my window. I filled it with sealant and they didn’t come back.

Do you know any of the people in the other flats? If you're not the ground floor then it does seem likely the nest is in the cavity of the wall - which makes it likely other flats are invaded also.

You could then share the cost of professionals?

As all else seems to have failed for you, here's a suggestion that I've not tried.

I heard on the radio years ago (might have been Chris Evans) that if you politely and calmly ask them to "please leave," they will disperse.

Now I can't be 100% certain that it wasn't broadcast on 1st April, but what have you got to lose? Apart from your dignity and self-esteem, but hopefully also a load of ants 🐜 😉 😀

It sounds like you have tried all the traditional ways and they haven't worked - time for a new approach.

Find out who their leader is, I think there a queen ant. Arrange to meet them in a neutral setting, both of you should arrive alone. Explain to her the upset this is causing you and that they are not welcome in their home. Be prepared to meet some resistance and try to have some bargaining chips ready to offer. Do you have a shed they could live in? Could you offer them food? Is there anything else they want? Money? Fine perfumes? Rare stamps?

Hopefully you can come to an agreement but if not simply tread on her and crush her underfoot. When the other ants see what you have done they will panic and leave.

Hope this helps, I am not an ant expert so no guarantees.

@HurdyGurdy19 @neverknowinglyunreasonable and @TwoLeftSocksWithHoles all excellent suggestions thankyou 😂the aardvark might struggle with the stairs but I'll see if I can find him a ramp. I'll maybe try flattery first with the queen, and curtseying - she may be easily swayed by deference.

@AnImaginaryCat yes I know them - they've had a few but nothing like as bad as we've got! I suppose it probably is a building-wide cost if it's inside the walls isn't it, as that affects the structure of the building. Hm. Maybe I'll float it with them.