[newlablover]

I have huge black ants that we can't get rid of. We have used 4 bottles of the ortho max spray and sprayed the perimeter of the house but they don't seem fazed by it.

[NowWhat]

We have the same problem - tis the season! :)
We have actually put ant baits through out the house (each year we do this) and it actually works.
Have you sprayed the inside of your house?

[Clough]

If they are carpenter ants, you might find information on the following site to be helpful to you. I hope that you do.

Carpenter Ants: Carpenter Ant Control with Baits, Spray, Dust

There is also some information from the following site that you might find to be helpful: Ants - Do It Yourself Pest Control at cooperseeds.com

There are also control methods listed on the site as well as prevention methods like you see below.

This is a quote from the site above:

Carpenter Ant Prevention

Homeowners should follow these simple steps to prevent carpenter ant problems:

Locate firewood piles off the ground and away from the home.

Trim trees and shrubs that brush next to the home. These can act as bridges to your home for the ants.

Correct any wood-to-earth contact, such as buried posts or wood siding in contact with mulch.

Fix any water leaks. Carpenter ants and other insects are attracted to moisture.

[danielnoahsmommy]

You might want to put baits on the exterior of your home as well as look for a nesting area!

[newlablover]

Spraying the home inside would be a problem, I have a 5 year old, a 2 year old and a 4 week old pup. Would it be safe for them to put traps in the house?

[danielnoahsmommy]

Keep them out of reach of the children and pup

[newlablover]

What would the nesting area look like? Im new at having my own home and have never had to deal with this before.

[NowWhat]

I have a 6 year old and we have never had a problem. Although, our dog did attempt to eat them last year. He didn't get sick, but we caught him before he did any damage.

If you sprayed around the baseboards of your kitchen - do you think it would be a problem.

[newlablover]

Would that ruin my laminate floors?

[danielnoahsmommy]

Baseboards would be a problem if the dogs lick that area. Try gating off that area till the spray dries. Also check your pantry and make sure there is no food source for them.

[newlablover]

Im not only finding them in the kitchen. I find them in the living room, bathroom, dining room, etc. and I am a neat freak so there is never food laying around in the open for them to get to. As for the cupboards, I have those chip clips on anything that has a bag in it, such as cereal and so on.

[danielnoahsmommy]

Not that the food is the problem, I personaly put food items that are out in zip lock bags. I think they sell spikes that go in the ground to stop them from coming in. Have an exterminator come to your home and do a pest inspection. They will make sure your deck is not rotting or any trees near your home are culprits.

[Clough]

For a description of the nests with pictures, please see the following:

Carpenter Ants This site especially, has lots of information about all facets of the ants. It is from the University of Minnesota Extension. It is worth looking at it. Among other things, Prevention, Control, Nests and Baits are described.

carpenter ant nests - Google Image Search

[pergammano]

All my life, my family has used an equal mix of Borax & Icing Sugar, put in tiny dishes in cupboards, small glass jars laid on their side (so animals can't get in,) the icing sugar attracts them, the Borax eliminates them. As you know ants are carnivorous, so they take their dead back to the nest, other ants eat them, and the Borax works again!