Meadow ants

[DonkeyApple]

I'm generally of the view to leave ants alone. In a typical year I may get a string of modest nests along the edge of the main lawn next to the fields. However, they've gone a bit German this year and have annexed considerable living space that needs taking back.

Does anyone know if borax works on them? My children appear to have a large supply remaining from the tremendous excitement of making slime and I would just mix it with some caster sugar and apply to the nests if they were black ants but I don't know if meadow ants are either killed by borax or whether they would come to the surface to take it as they forage underground?

Thanks.

[sherman]

Would a hosepipe and flood the nest not be an easier solution?

[DonkeyApple]

sherman said:

Would a hosepipe and flood the nest not be an easier solution?

I've tried that but I think all it is doing is triggering a relocation.

Boiling water is going to leave the lawn decimated given how many nests there are.

Nematodes might be an option later in the year but right now I'm trying to establish if borax will knock them down in number.

[so called]

Meadow ants, where are you?, come on, step forward.


"Nope, not me."



"Leave me out of this."



"I'm not one of them pesky meadow ants either."



"I'm a church yard ant, can't ya tell."



"Church yard ant, you, that sounds like pants."... "Oh, not me neiver."



"I like borax."



"Water, I can swim you know and I ain't one of them meadow ants."



"I'm ain't no lardyda meadow ant either."



"scuse me, meadow ant?"



"Come on England."



"He's a football pitch ant and I'm a minding my own business ant."



"Right then, you want a fight do ya. I'm a meadow ant and I've got friends in high places (up a tree) and if you want a fight, bring it on. Borax is for them low life Termites."

Edited by so called on Thursday 8th July 13:43

[Ace-T]

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com...

[DonkeyApple]

Ace-T said:

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com...

An interesting article on how Mr Dowling became aware that he lived in a filthy home but he makes no mention as to whether borax works on these ants?

[TimmyMallett]

DonkeyApple said:

However, they've gone a bit German this year and have annexed considerable living space that needs taking back.

s.

I know nothing about ants but that did make me laugh.

We've got a few and I just wander about the garden and put powder down, that seems to do the trick? Have you tried it yet? If anything to get any slime ingredient the fk out of the house where it bonds with every soft furnishing you have.

Try contact lens solution as well. And Elmers Glue.

Edited by TimmyMallett on Thursday 8th July 14:13

[DonkeyApple]

TimmyMallett said:

DonkeyApple said:

However, they've gone a bit German this year and have annexed considerable living space that needs taking back.

s.

I know nothing about ants but that did make me laugh.

We've got a few and I just wander about the garden and put powder down, that seems to do the trick? Have you tried it yet? If anything to get any slime ingredient the fk out of the house where it bonds with every soft furnishing you have.

Try contact lens solution as well. And Elmers Glue.

Edited by TimmyMallett on Thursday 8th July 14:13

Should try glitter as well.

[DonkeyApple]

so called said:

Meadow ants, where are you?, come on, step forward.


"Nope, not me."



"Leave me out of this."



"I'm not one of them pesky meadow ants either."



"I'm a church yard ant, can't ya tell."



"Church yard ant, you, that sounds like pants."... "Oh, not me neiver."



"I like borax."



"Water, I can swim you know and I ain't one of them meadow ants."



"I'm ain't no lardyda meadow ant either."



"scuse me, meadow ant?"



"Come on England."



"He's a football pitch ant and I'm a minding my own business ant."



"Right then, you want a fight do ya. I'm a meadow ant and I've got friends in high places (up a tree) and if you want a fight, bring it on. Borax is for them low life Termites."

Edited by so called on Thursday 8th July 13:43

That's fine way over my head and I'm now finding myself wondering whether to watch Donny Darko this evening.

[so called]

Just a bit of light heartedness.
I downloaded these images last month as I found the ant species variations fascinating.
Some truly scary beasts out there if your only 1mm tall!

Sorry not helpful with your ant problem.

[aeropilot]

DonkeyApple said:

Boiling water is going to leave the lawn decimated given how many nests there are.

Having the same problem this year were I am as well. Ffffff....fausands of the little bds.

I gave up with all the usual suggestions, and have resorted to boiling water I'm afraid, and will take the hit on the lawn which now looks like its got a severe case of acne....with bald brown spots all over it, but it will recover eventually, and seems to be the only thing that works. I'm doing a lawn inspection every two days, and the new nests are now getting smaller, and taking longer to develop, so I think I'm getting the job done.

[DonkeyApple]

I think that not being able to put a short cut into the lawn until this week has probably helped them. I've spent the last three days cutting progressively lower. I'm now down to the length I want to maintain but need one more cut to get below that and for the grass to grow from. I have the remnants of an old Victorian quarry at the top of the garden and the amount of cuttings that have gone into it this week is mind blowing!

The lawn itself currently looks like it's dead but one more cut lower and in a couple of weeks title be green and I'm hoping with inhibited ant expansionism.

[dgswk]

We've had loads this year too. Presume you mean the little yellow ants that love making small mounds, savage grass roots causing it to die and leave round bald patches in ones lawn.

Ant powder on the surface doesn't seem to work. I take a trowel, stick it into the nest and prize open slightly, then drop power inside and tap the surface down flat. Seems to be more effective.

Made worse as mrs dgswk has let the lawn go all bee-friendly by only mowing parts of it and letting the clover etc. flower thus attracting bees. Very noble.

But i) she trod on a bee yesterday and the ungrateful little **** stung her (I did snigger) and ii) ant nests are camouflaged until quite big and damage is done.

[ben5575]

Yes you can use borax: https://www.houseandhammer.com/homemade-ant-traps-...

I use these: https://www.wilko.com/raid-ant-bait-station/p/0333...

[DonkeyApple]

ben5575 said:

Yes you can use borax: https://www.houseandhammer.com/homemade-ant-traps-...

I use these: https://www.wilko.com/raid-ant-bait-station/p/0333...

Thanks. I used some borax mixed with sugar and I'm just waiting to see if it works.

[DonkeyApple]

dgswk said:

We've had loads this year too. Presume you mean the little yellow ants that love making small mounds, savage grass roots causing it to die and leave round bald patches in ones lawn.

Ant powder on the surface doesn't seem to work. I take a trowel, stick it into the nest and prize open slightly, then drop power inside and tap the surface down flat. Seems to be more effective.

Made worse as mrs dgswk has let the lawn go all bee-friendly by only mowing parts of it and letting the clover etc. flower thus attracting bees. Very noble.

But i) she trod on a bee yesterday and the ungrateful little **** stung her (I did snigger) and ii) ant nests are camouflaged until quite big and damage is done.

I've left a small patch completely wild but the main area I've spent the last week getting a proper cut in as much of the problem has been that until now the weather hasn't been good enough and the grass has been very long making a perfect habitat.

It should grow back