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    shazamataz's Avatar
    shazamataz Posts: 6,642, Reputation: 1244
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    #1

    Feb 9, 2010, 07:46 PM
    Ants in my pants (or on my front porch)
    Last night we left the front security light on all night by accident and there were all these little oval shaped black bugs all over the concrete.
    (I'm assuming they knocked themselves out on the light)
    And each bug on the ground was surrounded by hundred of ants getting a free meal.

    Is there are any natural way to kill them, or at least deter them?
    The dogs have access to this area so I don't want to use chemicals.
    Catsmine's Avatar
    Catsmine Posts: 3,826, Reputation: 739
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    #2

    Feb 9, 2010, 08:05 PM

    Get a security light mounted as far away from the porch as possible. The beetles (oval, black) will be attracted away and the ants will follow.

    The ants can also be killed by mixing boric acid powder(roach powder from the grocer) with honey in a 1:3 ratio (teaspoon of boric acid to a tablespoon of honey) and the bait mixture put into soda straws cut to 2 inch lengths. Place the baited straws along the ant trail(not across it) where the dogs cannot get to them.

    Your pants can best be discussed elsewhere.
    shazamataz's Avatar
    shazamataz Posts: 6,642, Reputation: 1244
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    #3

    Feb 10, 2010, 03:38 AM

    Cheers Cats, I'll give that a go tomorrow.
    How long do you think it would take to work?
    It's relatively easy blocking the dogs off from that part but I don't want to have to do it for weeks.
    Just as a side note... not currently wearing any pants ;)
    Catsmine's Avatar
    Catsmine Posts: 3,826, Reputation: 739
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    #4

    Feb 10, 2010, 03:48 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by shazamataz View Post
    Cheers Cats, I'll give that a go tomorrow.
    How long do you think it would take to work?
    It's relatively easy blocking the dogs off from that part but I don't want to have to do it for weeks.
    Just as a side note... not currently wearing any pants ;)
    Then don't do it. Baiting takes time, usually a minimum of three weeks. Are there any spots along the ant trail you could put straws where the dogs couldn't get them? Boric acid in these doses is unnoticeable to a poodle's metabolism, but if the dogs take the baits away the ants can't get any.

    Lucky Vaughn
    shazamataz's Avatar
    shazamataz Posts: 6,642, Reputation: 1244
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    #5

    Feb 10, 2010, 05:57 AM

    Ahhh OK, I'll check out where the trail goes.
    To be honest I didn't do much investigating, just saw all those ants and kind of freaked out.
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