Combatting an Invading Red Ant Colony

[siddharth]

For the past couple of days, I've been fighting a painful battle with a red ant colony which has invaded my hostel room. They look like fire ants and are very aggressive. The ants seem to prefer my wardrobe and unused clothes for some reason. I've cleaned the room twice and tried to wash away the pheromone trail, but that didn't work and the ants were back in a couple of hours.

So, I conceded defeat for the day, left the hostel and went home. Tomorrow I'm going to bring the heavy artillery.

 

[neutrino]

Reminds me of the chapter from "Suerly You're Joking, Mr.Feynman," although he was a brave man. ;)

 

[siddharth]

Reminds me of the chapter from "Suerly You're Joking, Mr.Feynman," although he was a brave man. ;)

Indeed. There's no way I'm going to attempt ferrying the ants, I've been bitten enough.

 

[neutrino]

Ha Ha 10 char[/color]

 

[TuviaDaCat]

just search where they come from(hole, or the colony itself), and spray it like hell?

 

[Anttech]

get some ant eating spiders in there

 

[neutrino]

get some ant eating spiders in there

Looking at your name, I think you are a specialist in these matters.

 

[Moonbear]

Who runs the hostel? It sounds like they need to bring in an exterminator. If they're in your room and persistently returning, they're likely in other rooms too. If you can find a source though...a crack or hole in the wall or under a window, sealing the source should do it too.

 

[Echo 6 Sierra]

When it comes to bugs in and around my place I practice a scorched Earth policy. First step, and usually the only one required: Sevin Dust. It's relatively inexpensive and easy to apply. Just don't breath it.

 

[BobG]

For the past couple of days, I've been fighting a painful battle with a red ant colony which has invaded my hostel room. They look like fire ants and are very aggressive. The ants seem to prefer my wardrobe and unused clothes for some reason. I've cleaned the room twice and tried to wash away the pheromone trail, but that didn't work and the ants were back in a couple of hours.

So, I conceded defeat for the day, left the hostel and went home. Tomorrow I'm going to bring the heavy artillery.

This would be a good choice: Ant exterminator

 

[JasonRox]

I would just redirect them somewhere else into someone else's room.

Plant a bag of sugar underneath someone else's bed and that should keep the ants busy for awhile!

Just kidding. :)

I vote Exterminator like everyone else.

 

[Mech_Engineer]

All you need is some poison that the ants will bring back to their colony, share, and then die. Go to Home Depot or Lowes, talk to a guy there. I would look for ant poison called "Amdro," I have used it with much success in the past.

You must be smarter than the ants, young padawan

 

[Cyrus]

Do they have home depot in india?

 

[siddharth]

What's home depot? A retailer?

I have to wait a day before I can claim victory, but insecticide seems to have done the trick. The hostel administrator should have called the exterminator, but he couldn't find one and told me that I'll have to cope with it. As for the source, they enter through the small gaps in the windows and doors. I found at least 5 trails, each some 3 ants thick. Strangely, only my room seems to be affected. The guys in the adjacent rooms don't seem to have a problem.

Now to clean the remains. I like the idea of having a giant anteater as a pet

 

[siddharth]

Dang, they are back.

 

[Yonoz]

Try pouring liquid soap into whatever hole they're emerging from. Worked for me.

 

[brewnog]

Get a flea bomb!