[Tvflguy]

We have a 9 year old Designer home. Have had occasional ant issues over the past years. Put out ant traps, sprayed etc etc


Well when our recent HOT streak began weeks ago, we’ve been fighting those tiny ants. Primarily in the kitchen area and dining room. On the floors and on the window sills. Sometimes some in bathrooms and foyer area. Tried all types of traps like Terro, other types, sprays inside and out. And homemade remedies. Nothing really worked. Most were I
On the floor dead but sometimes crawling. Made sure the windows sealed well and caulked some areas.

We were so frustrated as it never seemed to get better. We’d vacuum them up several times a day. Never could see their entry spots. Until a few days ago. Noticed more around the floor near our stove. Pulled it out and saw there was no floor mounding between the cabinets. There was a 1/2”. Gap between the tile and wallboard. And we noticed a couple drops of oil or such with dead ants. And quite a few dead ones under the oven. Crap!!!!

So I cleaned all very well. Sprayed ant killer into the crack and waited a few hours. Then caulked the open crack really well.

Over the last couple days we’ve seen fewer and fewer. Almost totally gone. Never thought the area under the stove could be their entry. We have a block stucco home. But there is probably a very small crack allowing their entry inside.
Will spray that area outside too.

Fingers crossed but looks good…

[Stu from NYC]

They do find a way in

[Bill14564]

TL;DR: Terro isn't the answer for all ants.

This month I learned about white-footed ants.

I knew about ghost ants and "normal" ants in Maryland and I knew Terro did a great job of getting rid of them. So when I saw small ants this year I put out more Terro. After three days the ants were still streaming in to get to the bait.

It turns out that, unlike other ants, white-footed ants do not share their food (the bait) with the nest. Other ants do share which is why putting out Terro kills the nest after a day or so. Since these white-footed ants do not share, they only let the other ants know where to go to get their own food. Essentially, I had created a very large (for an ant) buffet and invited the entire colony to eat.

Our pest control guy set me straight. He removed the buffet, sprayed the ants that were present, then applied some material around the foundation to kill anything else that tried to get in. We still have one or two strays but so far so good.

[Tvflguy]

Didn’t check the feet color if ours here. Hmmmm. Thanks for the tip - if mine are not… totally croaked. Time will tell.