Can Ants Be Effectively Eliminated from Sugar Storage Containers?

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Ant infestations in kitchens, particularly around sugar and food, are a common concern. Users report persistent ant problems despite efforts to clean and seal containers. Suggestions for managing ants include using airtight containers, such as old-fashioned jars with rubber seals, and thoroughly cleaning kitchen surfaces to eliminate scent trails. Some recommend placing cat food in water-filled bowls to deter ants and suggest putting sugar containers in the fridge or freezer to kill any ants present. Others propose using natural deterrents like whole cloves, which are said to repel ants, or sprinkling pepper around entry points. More aggressive methods include using boric acid or commercial ant baits, which can effectively eliminate colonies. Users also emphasize the importance of sealing entry points in homes, such as gaps around doors and windows, to prevent future infestations. Overall, a combination of cleanliness, proper food storage, and targeted pest control methods is advised for long-term ant management.
  • #31
Everclear or Akravit?
 
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  • #32
binzing said:
Everclear or Akravit?

Hey! None for you! You're still underage! You get ants with your sugar. :-p
 
  • #33
Lolz, I was determining which alcohol level would be needed to dissolve the sugar. I should have include tequila (more likely mescal) and vodka.
 
  • #34
I have heard if you mix equal parts of connfectioners sugar and baking soda, and put a dish of this on the ant trails, they will take this home and share it. The baking soda will pop the ants when they eat it, cause ants can't fart.
 
  • #35
", cause ants can't fart." Ha ha, that's good. I'll have to try that with some ants in captivity. Somehow, I have my doubts.
 
  • #36
This is a trick that I onced used for this.

Obviously, the ants are attracted to the sugar, so what you should first do, is find the source of the ants (mainly the ant hills). Exterminating the ant hills usually will not kill all of the ants, and most of the time causes them to move. So I poured sugar on the and hills and around them. Its my way of "keeping them busy".

It doesn't always work, but its more fun than the other ways.
 
  • #37
I would recommend some sort of high powered explosive placed inside the sugar container, and then next time you notice ants in the container [walk away and then] push the detonator.

That'll teach the ants.

PS. Make sure you do this on carpet, as we can then repair the burn mark on your carpet through a little known technique.
 
  • #38
NeoDevin said:
I would recommend some sort of high powered explosive placed inside the sugar container, and then next time you notice ants in the container [walk away and then] push the detonator.

That'll teach the ants.

PS. Make sure you do this on carpet, as we can then repair the burn mark on your carpet through a little known technique.

I'm going to write to Infinite Solutions about my ant problem. :approve:
 
  • #39
Math Jeans said:
This is a trick that I onced used for this.

Obviously, the ants are attracted to the sugar, so what you should first do, is find the source of the ants (mainly the ant hills). Exterminating the ant hills usually will not kill all of the ants, and most of the time causes them to move. So I poured sugar on the and hills and around them. Its my way of "keeping them busy".
Yeah, mostly what they'll be busy doing is enlarging and spreading their colony...
 
  • #40
Maybe its time to put a call in for Bill Murray, he really went to war with the gophers in Caddy Shack, he might could fix the ant problem:smile:
 
  • #41
binzing said:
I'll have to try that with some ants in captivity.

Which raises the question...if you can build a contraption to keep ants in captivity, why can't you build something similar to keep them OUT? What's different about your average ant farm and a food cannister that one is effective for keeping ants in but the other doesn't keep them out? Time to stick your food cannisters inside of plexiglass boxes with some vaseline around the outside edges...like a little fortress against the ants. :biggrin: You can try adding the moat, patrolled by an anteater...hey there you go, get an anteater as a pet! :wink:
 
  • #42
Interesting--I hadn't heard of this:


"Whole Cloves are apparently a good way to repel invading sugar ants. Whole cloves have been used to help prevent infestations of all sorts of insects. I imagine it is the compounds that produce the strong smell in cloves that many pests do not like, but then, I'm not a biologist like Eric, so I wouldn't know. Suffice to say that if you leave some whole cloves laying around the house, especially along baseboards and under counters, you will probably have less sugar ants scurrying about--and perhaps a better smelling home, if you like cloves that is. "



http://www.getridofthings.com/get-rid-of-sugar-ants.htm




Especially if you like cloves too --like clove cologne, clove aftershave, clove freshener hanging in cars, etc.---clove scented underwear (for those who get ants in their pants)
 
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  • #43
lisab said:
Yes, they dehydrate. But if you're an ant, what a way to go!

My wife has dreams of laying in a field of pasta. And then eating her way out...
If you can't tell she likes plain pasta with butter or olive oil.

Plus, the life expectancy of ants is short, they burn themselves out a few weeks. Most ant species remove the dead-uns when they are in the nest, but they leave 'em alone elsewhere. So when a worker ant buys it and is petiole-deep in sugar, she stays there.

The USDA has tolerance levels for insect body parts and frass (insect poop) in things like grain, flour, sugar and so on. In other words, a flour lot can have insect frass in it, and still pass inspection. So we all eat bug-flavored foods now and then...
 
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  • #44
Yes, I got a salad from a fast food place, and it had aphids in it, when I complained I was told the bug count met USDA standards.
 
  • #45
rewebster said:
I... if you like cloves that is. "

We could drive away Evo too, if we left a lot of cloves around (I think it was Evo who absolutely hates cloves...I used to, but in very small amounts have acquired a taste for them as a seasoning).

I'm not really sure I want cloves in my sugar though. Somehow, I think the ants would be tastier and not quite so tooth cracking should I bite into one in my cake.
 
  • #46
It sounds like they shouldn't be eaten like candy (sugar coated cloves):


"Toxicity
Large amounts should be avoided in pregnancy. Cloves can be irritating to the gastrointestinal tract, and should be avoided by people with gastric ulcers, colitis, or irritable bowel syndrome. In overdoses, cloves can cause vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Severe cases can lead to changes in liver function, dyspnea, loss of consciousness, hallucination, and even death.[7] The internal use of the essential oil should be restricted to 3 drops per day for an adult as excessive use can cause severe kidney damage"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clove

"Other important constituents include essential oils acetyl eugenol, beta-caryophylline and vanillin; crategolic acid; tannins, gallotannic acid, methyl salicylate (painkiller); the flavanoids eugenin, kaempferol, rhamnetin, and eugenitin; triterpenoids like oleanolic acid, stigmasterol and campesterol; and several sesquiterpenes.[9]"

hmmmm--they even contain some vanilla--they're good for the yang too
 
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  • #47
Moonbear said:
We could drive away Evo too, if we left a lot of cloves around (I think it was Evo who absolutely hates cloves...I used to, but in very small amounts have acquired a taste for them as a seasoning).
Gaaahh! Cloves are the work of the devil.
 
  • #48
Evo said:
Gaaahh! Cloves are the work of the devil.

moderation---just use in moderation
 
  • #49
rewebster said:
moderation---just use in moderation
Sorry, I cannot put nasty tooth medicine in my food.
 
  • #50
Evo said:
Sorry, I cannot put nasty tooth medicine in my food.

That's just one use------it is used as a spice more than 'tooth medicine'

Tequila can be used as a medicine----how many people use it that way?
 
  • #51
spray some ant poison in your sugar?
 
  • #52
Evo said:
Gaaahh! Cloves are the work of the devil.
Why? 'cause the devil has clove-n feet?

I see you had the same toothache clove oil stuff we all used to get for sore teeth. Tasted awful, didn't work worth a darn...
 
  • #53
Math Is Hard said:
You don't have a salt magnet?
Or an ant magnet?

Wait -- maybe you do, and that's the problem!
 
  • #54
Fire?
 
  • #55
I recommend blending the sugar with an equal amount of cyanide.
 
  • #56
NeoDevin said:
I would recommend some sort of high powered explosive placed inside the sugar container, and then next time you notice ants in the container [walk away and then] push the detonator.
I love the way that you think. :approve:

DaveC426913 said:
For the love of God, if you find ants in your sugar, toss it and buy a new bag.

You have something against protein?

Moonbear said:
get an anteater as a pet! :wink:

Oh sure... then I'd never get the wife to myself again. :rolleyes:

jim mcnamara said:
Why? 'cause the devil has clove-n feet?
Even if we did have a 'groan' smilie, I couldn't fit enough of them on one screen to cover that...

I'd just put an ant-trap in the suger jar and let them take it home to eradicate the nest. Put the real sugar somewhere else, in a sealed container as others have suggested.
 
  • #57
david90 said:
spray some ant poison in your sugar?

tried it, don't recommend it.
My recommendation is let the ants have some sugar, it's cheap and it's not like they eat that much. So you get a few ants on your corn flakes consider it a bonus not only is it added vitamins they also don't get soggy in milk.
 
  • #58
Danger said:
Oh sure... then I'd never get the wife to myself again. :rolleyes:

How do you keep the lines out of your name?, I'm not talking just one :smile:
 
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  • #59
He pays off the mentors in chocolate.
 
  • #60
hypatia said:
He pays off the mentors in chocolate.

Maybe he needs to be tailed, and see where, and what kind of chocolate he gets:wink:
 

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