ants

[darkoshi]

I just discovered a thick stream of ants going back and forth from my big dictionary to the crack in the corner of the window frame. The dictionary is right by the wall, so it's a short distance.

My initial reaction was that I should put out some ant bait right away.

But it appears that they had a nest in the thin area between the book cover and the book. They are carrying ant eggs/pupae away from the book, into the crack, presumably outside.

So, should I wait until they finish carrying away the eggs, and will they maybe then stay gone? Then I could fill in the crack so that they don't come back.

Sigh. I haven't even gotten around to caulking the last place ants came in, in the kitchen. I had used ant bait that time.

..
Update:
Oh gosh dangit. It's like a nightmare.

This afternoon I checked again, and almost all the ants and pupae were gone. There were only about 4 or 5 ants still milling around, and almost all the crud under the book cover was gone. I was so relieved, but I didn't have time to caulk the crack shut right then.

Now maybe 5 hours later I look again, and the ants are back in full force, this time carrying the pupae in the other direction and putting them back under the book cover! What the heck? Do they plan to carry them back and forth every day?

I guess I'll have to put out ant bait after all. But I don't want to end up with a bunch of dead ants, bait, and pupae under my dictionary book cover.

... Well, when I thump the book cover, some of the ants to start carrying the pupae in the other direction again. Maybe if I can keep that up until they're all gone again...

Comments

[randomdreams.livejournal.com]

Aieeeeee! that makes me shiver just imagining it. I hope you win.

[darkoshi]

It worked! I got most of the ants to leave, taking the pupae with them, and then I caulked the crack shut around 2am. This morning it's still looking good. Hopefully they won't find a new way in. I'm getting rid of the book cover in any case, so that they won't be able to come back to the same place.

[randomdreams.livejournal.com]

So totally frustrating and gross, though!

[darkoshi]

I took a video of the ants when I first found them. If it turned out good, and if it doesn't gross me out too much, I may post it.

In retrospect, it could have been a lot worse. Like a nest of spiders or roaches. I much prefer having an ant problem versus your mouse problem.

There's still something getting into my attic though. One of the 2 piles of sunflower seeds I put out up there were nibbled on. So that may end up being a problem again, but hopefully not.

[randomdreams.livejournal.com]

My aunt was just telling me that at the local feed/farm store they have industrial pest poison, stuff that makes dcon look like pixie stix. She recommended it highly.