Ghost Ants

[Grill Meister]

I need some advice on getting rid of ghost ants. I have them mostly in my bathroom basins. I have tried several methods of getting rid of them. I have left drops of "TERRO ANT KILLER" around and they flock to that, but that is a poison and apparently an entire tribe of those little boogers and not complete annihilated. I have also used "COMBAT ANY KILLING GEL" and "ADVION ANT GEL". The instructions for COMBAT and ADVION suggests that you spread them in the areas where the ants are found and DO NOT us any form of "repellent". I have tried both of these gels, which come in hypodermic devices, by squeezing a line at the tops of the basins, under the granite counter top. I also spread the gels under the sinks where the water pipes come out of the walls. Nothing is stopping the ants. My next door neighbors had a professional extermination company treat their house for them and it got rid of the ants.....for one week and then they were back with vengeance. Oh, too, I have also spread insecticide all around the perimeter of the house. Got any suggestions? Maybe a blow torch????

[billethkid]

They usually follow a trail along "something" with ant going and coming on the same trail.
Follow until you can find where they are coming from.....hands and knees with flash light.

Then spray the source and all along the trail.

If that doesn't work then call the bug man.

We had them about 12 years ago.....haven't seen one since.

[bagboy]

I would check your outside sewer flushout cap (4" white, slightly raised). If there is a crack, it could be an access point for bugs.

[B-flat]

Just this weekend we had some ghost ants. We followed the trail to an electrical outlet on an outer wall then sprayed behind the outlet cover and that solved it.

[Bill14564]

You mentioned drops of Terro; I wonder if you used enough? We use Terro in the little plastic units. Just clip off an end to open it then place the box on the counter or the floor for a few days. I've seen these turn black with all the ants they attract but after a couple of days the ants are gone.

It's important to put out enough or you will attract all the ants but only kill some. I've tried the Terro liquid but didn't have much success. The little plastic units seem to do a good job.

It's also important to place the Terro near where the ants seem to be coming in. If they have to travel through the house to find the Terro then some could find other food sources and avoid the poison. You probably can't tell exactly where they come in but try to get close.

We don't try to prevent the ants, we just wait for them to appear, put out the Terro, then wait for the next season.

[tbuthray]

Buy a small bottle of Terro at Ace . Follow instructions. Does the trick every time

[banjobob]

You mentioned drops of Terro; I wonder if you used enough? We use Terro in the little plastic units. Just clip off an end to open it then place the box on the counter or the floor for a few days. I've seen these turn black with all the ants they attract but after a couple of days the ants are gone.

It's important to put out enough or you will attract all the ants but only kill some. I've tried the Terro liquid but didn't have much success. The little plastic units seem to do a good job.

It's also important to place the Terro near where the ants seem to be coming in. If they have to travel through the house to find the Terro then some could find other food sources and avoid the poison. You probably can't tell exactly where they come in but try to get close.

We don't try to prevent the ants, we just wait for them to appear, put out the Terro, then wait for the next season.
Sometimes you need to bait several times to eliminate them ,but it will work

[sdeikenberry]

Who ya gonna call? Call Ghostbusters!

[Tomptomp]

I used “ Telstar” outside around the perimeter of the house. Then.... I purchased boric acid from Amazon. It is inexpensive and safe to use indoors and around pets. I mixed it with water in a spray bottle. I thin layer is better than using too much. It is almost invisible on the surface area sprayed. The pests get it on their feet and bring it back to their nest. They will avoid an area that is too heavily coated.
It works for me. I use it a few times a year. Good luck.

[DaleDivine]

Buy a small bottle of Terro at Ace . Follow instructions. Does the trick every time
OP said they tried that...
:ohdear::ohdear:

[DaleDivine]

Who ya gonna call? Call Ghostbusters!

LOL That was gonna be my suggestion as well...
:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[golfing eagles]

I need some advice on getting rid of ghost ants. I have them mostly in my bathroom basins. I have tried several methods of getting rid of them. I have left drops of "TERRO ANT KILLER" around and they flock to that, but that is a poison and apparently an entire tribe of those little boogers and not complete annihilated. I have also used "COMBAT ANY KILLING GEL" and "ADVION ANT GEL". The instructions for COMBAT and ADVION suggests that you spread them in the areas where the ants are found and DO NOT us any form of "repellent". I have tried both of these gels, which come in hypodermic devices, by squeezing a line at the tops of the basins, under the granite counter top. I also spread the gels under the sinks where the water pipes come out of the walls. Nothing is stopping the ants. My next door neighbors had a professional extermination company treat their house for them and it got rid of the ants.....for one week and then they were back with vengeance. Oh, too, I have also spread insecticide all around the perimeter of the house. Got any suggestions? Maybe a blow torch????

Do you have a contract with one of the pest control/lawn companies?

[xcaligirl]

I need some advice on getting rid of ghost ants. I have them mostly in my bathroom basins. I have tried several methods of getting rid of them. I have left drops of "TERRO ANT KILLER" around and they flock to that, but that is a poison and apparently an entire tribe of those little boogers and not complete annihilated. I have also used "COMBAT ANY KILLING GEL" and "ADVION ANT GEL". The instructions for COMBAT and ADVION suggests that you spread them in the areas where the ants are found and DO NOT us any form of "repellent". I have tried both of these gels, which come in hypodermic devices, by squeezing a line at the tops of the basins, under the granite counter top. I also spread the gels under the sinks where the water pipes come out of the walls. Nothing is stopping the ants. My next door neighbors had a professional extermination company treat their house for them and it got rid of the ants.....for one week and then they were back with vengeance. Oh, too, I have also spread insecticide all around the perimeter of the house. Got any suggestions? Maybe a blow torch????
Massey got rid of the ones we had quickly!

[ankeny]

I had the same problem fought them for 6 months a losing battle. They do not take the bait back to the nest like other ants so that method is a waste of time. I finally gave up and called Deans (I’m sure any professional exterminator would work) by the time they treated they had established 3 colonies the exterminator told me there are over a million ants in each colony (I don’t think he counted them). He treated then came back in two weeks and retreated he told me it could take up to four treatments but mine were eliminated after two. I would suggest getting a professional involved otherwise they will only get worse.

[virtue51]

call you pest control company

[Alana33]

They're drawn to heat from electrical outlets and panels. Had a problem in my kitchen many years ago.
After a hurricane, we replaced the breaker box and there was the nest, queen, eggs and all. No more ants after that! Good luck!

[Petersweeney]

Are they also called sugar ants?

[Pachine58]

Tried all the commercial stuff, still had ants. Got some orange guard on Amazon. It is non toxic and sprayed baseboards , ants gone. I guess orange is toxic to ants. Peppermint oil on cotton balls repels them.

[kendi]

Just this weekend we had some ghost ants. We followed the trail to an electrical outlet on an outer wall then sprayed behind the outlet cover and that solved it.

They’ll be back. Spraying won’t get to the source which is the nest.

[JayBee]

what is "the breaker box" ?

[kendi]

I need some advice on getting rid of ghost ants. I have them mostly in my bathroom basins. I have tried several methods of getting rid of them. I have left drops of "TERRO ANT KILLER" around and they flock to that, but that is a poison and apparently an entire tribe of those little boogers and not complete annihilated. I have also used "COMBAT ANY KILLING GEL" and "ADVION ANT GEL". The instructions for COMBAT and ADVION suggests that you spread them in the areas where the ants are found and DO NOT us any form of "repellent". I have tried both of these gels, which come in hypodermic devices, by squeezing a line at the tops of the basins, under the granite counter top. I also spread the gels under the sinks where the water pipes come out of the walls. Nothing is stopping the ants. My next door neighbors had a professional extermination company treat their house for them and it got rid of the ants.....for one week and then they were back with vengeance. Oh, too, I have also spread insecticide all around the perimeter of the house. Got any suggestions? Maybe a blow torch????

We had them too. Deans does our yard so came out and took care of our ants no charge. He says to never spray but instead use the traps where they carry the poison back to the nest. Couple weeks later there were still a few in the guest bath. He came back and put the product on the outside of our house where the bath was. He said sometimes they have a nest by the house and will come in just looking for moisture. It is not unusual for there to be multiple nests. They love sweets and toothpaste. No more ants.

[am.zinger@aol.com]

I need some advice on getting rid of ghost ants. I have them mostly in my bathroom basins. I have tried several methods of getting rid of them. I have left drops of "TERRO ANT KILLER" around and they flock to that, but that is a poison and apparently an entire tribe of those little boogers and not complete annihilated. I have also used "COMBAT ANY KILLING GEL" and "ADVION ANT GEL". The instructions for COMBAT and ADVION suggests that you spread them in the areas where the ants are found and DO NOT us any form of "repellent". I have tried both of these gels, which come in hypodermic devices, by squeezing a line at the tops of the basins, under the granite counter top. I also spread the gels under the sinks where the water pipes come out of the walls. Nothing is stopping the ants. My next door neighbors had a professional extermination company treat their house for them and it got rid of the ants.....for one week and then they were back with vengeance. Oh, too, I have also spread insecticide all around the perimeter of the house. Got any suggestions? Maybe a blow torch????
I live in the Brownwood Apts in Wildwood. I had what I thought were Ghost Ants but the exterminator examined my specimens and determined they were Pharaoh ants. Mine also were in the bathroom sink basins and on top of the granite. He put some food on the floor of my vanities. He told me their nest could be miles away but once they eat, they take the food back to the nest and it should kill them. However, it could take years to get there, at their pace. I still have the occasional few. Not too sure they they'll ever really be gone, but that's my opinion.

[Bogie Shooter]

what is "the breaker box" ?

You need to know what it is, where it is at, how to turn circuits off. Suggest you do an Internet search.

What is a breaker box panel?
A breaker box — aka electrical panel — is mounted on the wall, usually in the basement or garage of a home, and its purpose is to take in electricity supplied by your power company and redistribute it throughout your home via electrical circuits

[mixsonci]

What are ghost ants, how are they different from regular ants?

[Bill14564]

What are ghost ants, how are they different from regular ants?

google can give a better description including pictures.

Ghost ants are little, teeny, tiny things that are very hard to see. They are also very fast. If you see an ant on the driveway it is almost definitely not a ghost ant. If you see something tiny moving across the laptop monitor it may be a ghost ant.

[Ski Bum]

I use Dean's at one of my homes and Massey at the other. I know a lot of Villagers like to DIY, but the pros do a great job. I had some a year ago. Dean's came out, gave me a bunch of bait traps, explained how to place them, and treated the outside of the home. Problem solved. I had some show up again in September, called Dean's and they came out the next day, found the nest and nuked it.

[jimhurtt@twc.com]

Call Ghost Busters!

[Hdaugh777]

I need some advice on getting rid of ghost ants. I have them mostly in my bathroom basins. I have tried several methods of getting rid of them. I have left drops of "TERRO ANT KILLER" around and they flock to that, but that is a poison and apparently an entire tribe of those little boogers and not complete annihilated. I have also used "COMBAT ANY KILLING GEL" and "ADVION ANT GEL". The instructions for COMBAT and ADVION suggests that you spread them in the areas where the ants are found and DO NOT us any form of "repellent". I have tried both of these gels, which come in hypodermic devices, by squeezing a line at the tops of the basins, under the granite counter top. I also spread the gels under the sinks where the water pipes come out of the walls. Nothing is stopping the ants. My next door neighbors had a professional extermination company treat their house for them and it got rid of the ants.....for one week and then they were back with vengeance. Oh, too, I have also spread insecticide all around the perimeter of the house. Got any suggestions? Maybe a blow torch????



This has worked well for me! The activity will increase for a day or two and then they’re gone. (If they continue after that, Massey’s has treated them for me. They sometimes have to come back several times if it’s a large nest. )

Ant Bait
1 c warm water
1/2 c sugar
2 tbls borax
Stir to dissolve.

Dip cotton balls in mixture and place several near ants. Replace if they dry out. Ants will take bait back to nest.

Can refrigerate and use straight from fridge.

[fsusix]

We had pesty ants mainly because the house was unoccuplied before we bought it for 5 years. The only way they got rid of (most of them - and it's been a year) is by treating all around & inside the electrical outlets because they live in the walls. Still from time to time my 'glue traps catch some. Massey gives them to you if you use their service. I couldn't tackle them myself - I had no clue. I haven't seen them in a month - on or around the front door - so keeping my fingers crossed - but still spraying in between outside the door myself. :boom:

[tc1963]

I need some advice on getting rid of ghost ants. I have them mostly in my bathroom basins. I have tried several methods of getting rid of them. I have left drops of "TERRO ANT KILLER" around and they flock to that, but that is a poison and apparently an entire tribe of those little boogers and not complete annihilated. I have also used "COMBAT ANY KILLING GEL" and "ADVION ANT GEL". The instructions for COMBAT and ADVION suggests that you spread them in the areas where the ants are found and DO NOT us any form of "repellent". I have tried both of these gels, which come in hypodermic devices, by squeezing a line at the tops of the basins, under the granite counter top. I also spread the gels under the sinks where the water pipes come out of the walls. Nothing is stopping the ants. My next door neighbors had a professional extermination company treat their house for them and it got rid of the ants.....for one week and then they were back with vengeance. Oh, too, I have also spread insecticide all around the perimeter of the house. Got any suggestions? Maybe a blow torch????

If you can find Malathion, Daizinon or Liquid Seven that seems to work for me. First 2 have a strong odor but dissipates after a few hours. (NLA chemical would be Chlordane termiticide, NLA for over 30 years but was great). Demon MAX (available on Amazon) should also work. Make sure you spray around all plumbing where it comes through the walls AND where your main shut off is, typically found in the garage. Typically they follow the plumbing. Hope this helps.

[RICH1]

Holy smokes , I was going to recommend TERRO … but you have it covered….

[HJBeck]

Not sure if I’ve ever heard of them, but our usuall treatment is Borax (tee spoon) mixed with honey (teaspoon) on a piece of aluminum foil. Once they find it, 100-200 will start eating it, take it back to the colony and kill the whole colony. Takes about 3 days to get all of them, especially the last stragglers. Probably should keep this stuff away from kids and pets. The key is to have the patients to let them really feed well on the stuff and not try to kill them while in your home eating the stuff. You want to make sure the entire colony is killed.

[4557Spahr]

We had them, call Dean's and they did a treatment and they were gone instantly.

[1couple]

[use Simple Green and clean the area bugs hate it and it smells good to most people QUOTE=Grill Meister;2034942]I need some advice on getting rid of ghost ants. I have them mostly in my bathroom basins. I have tried several methods of getting rid of them. I have left drops of "TERRO ANT KILLER" around and they flock to that, but that is a poison and apparently an entire tribe of those little boogers and not complete annihilated. I have also used "COMBAT ANY KILLING GEL" and "ADVION ANT GEL". The instructions for COMBAT and ADVION suggests that you spread them in the areas where the ants are found and DO NOT us any form of "repellent". I have tried both of these gels, which come in hypodermic devices, by squeezing a line at the tops of the basins, under the granite counter top. I also spread the gels under the sinks where the water pipes come out of the walls. Nothing is stopping the ants. My next door neighbors had a professional extermination company treat their house for them and it got rid of the ants.....for one week and then they were back with vengeance. Oh, too, I have also spread insecticide all around the perimeter of the house. Got any suggestions? Maybe a blow torch????[/QUOTE]

[Villages Kahuna]

Call Massey Services.

[lisarenee523]

[QUOTE=Grill Meister;2034942]I need some advice on getting rid of ghost ants. I have them mostly in my bathroom basins. I have tried several methods of getting rid of them. I have left drops of "TERRO ANT KILLER" around and they flock to that, but that is a poison and apparently an entire tribe of those little boogers and not complete annihilated.

I've used Terro for years. A friend of mine told me to put a drop of it on a small piece of aluminum foil to help me get rid of sugar ants at my house in Houston, and it worked. I had that sitting up by the window sill for a few days, and it took care of them.

[ilvgolf]

I poured some drain clogger stuff down each drain and did it at night. The next morning I ran the water thru for about two minutes on each drain and guess what - I don't have them anymore. Just a suggestion.
:boom: