[Pil-pc-oceania] Ant infestation

[Robyn Williamson]

I think I bought my tub of Borax in the supermarket, you'll probably  
find it located with the laundry detergents.  The one I have is made  
by Harpers and described as an environmentally friendly stain  
remover, natural deodoriser and fabric softener, cleans all enamelled  
surfaces such as refrigerators, a fabric preservative when used with  
starch, cleans concrete paths, tea and coffee stains etc.  You need  
to dissolve it in a little boiling water.  I've heard it's effective  
for cockroaches as well as ants so worth a try for most .  It's a  
plant micro-nutrient, only needed in very small quantities so don't  
go overboard with it, apply small amounts in several applications  
over time rather than a big dose in one go.  Lime may be able to  
mitigate a strong dose as David suggested but better to be cautious  
when mucking around with white powders I reckon.

I notice that lime as CaCO2 is the main ingredient in a very  
expensive cleansing paste, sold party-plan style with very expensive  
accessories as a "revolutionary new cleaning system".  The last time  
I bought lime it was so long ago I can't exactly remember, about $20  
for 40kg retail!

Robyn W

On 16/03/2008, at 11:48 AM, Robyn Francis wrote:

> Ants carry the borax infected food back to the nest to feed the  
> young – it kills the larvae, not the adult ants, eventually killing  
> off the nest, or at least substantially reducing the population
> Ciao
> Robyn
>
>
> On 15/3/08 2:15 PM, "Tamara Griffiths" <scarletwoman at hotmail.com>  
> wrote:
>
>> Thanks David,
>>
>> I wonder how the boron works. Something to do with the oleic acid  
>> in ants? I have read that borax (etc.) is fairly harmless to humans.
>>
>> I was thinking that diatomaceous earth might also work, but I've  
>> never used it.
>>
>> Thanks again,
>> Tamara
>>
>>
>>
>>> Date: Sat, 15 Mar 2008 12:34:22 +1100
>>> From: arnold.vt at gmail.com
>>> To: pil-pc-oceania at lists.permacultureinternational.org
>>> Subject: Re: [Pil-pc-oceania] Ant infestation
>>>
>>> the commercial ant-rid product is just boron in sweet solution.   
>>> treegrowers often need to supplement the amount of boron in their  
>>> soil, especially as boron availability is reduced by application  
>>> of lime.  i have put boron on my trees here previously, and need  
>>> to do so again.
>>>
>>> bulk ant-rid can be made with Boron dissolved in hot water with  
>>> honey
>>>
>>> dave
>>>
>>>
>>> On 15/03/2008, Tamara Griffiths <scarletwoman at hotmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Hi All,
>>>>
>>>> I have a friend who has an entire wall of ants in an old  
>>>> weatherboard. Short of feeding an echidna, blue tongues etc, I  
>>>> am not sure of what to advise.
>>>>
>>>> They don't want to get the pest man in. What do you all think  
>>>> about ant dust (I don't use it myself). They could get an animal  
>>>> communicator  :)
>>>>
>>>> Help!
>>>>
>>>> Love T
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! MSN Messenger  
>>>> <http://clk.atdmt.com/AVE/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/>
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>>>
>
>
> -- 
> Pathways to sustainability through
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>
> Robyn Francis
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> educator & facilitator
>
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