And they aren't on my plants either, but I thought someone could help me get rid of these pests and keep them gone! I have put out ant traps in child/animal safe areas in my house but still every time I turn around there are more of them. They have taken to hiding on my desk and launching themselves at me when I am not looking.

Thanks I am bug phobic too. Having said that I see the ants coming in but I don't see them going out. I did find a nest outside under my fence, my son sprayed the heck out of it, but there are still ants in the house.

One of the members pmd me a site that will help you identify the type of ant and actions to manage them I will post it at the bottom.

One of my problems is that I have guinea pigs so there is always some food out(pellets, hay), I can't put it away at nite because they need to have food available or there stomach starts to shut down.

anyway here is the link
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7411.html

hope that works, it is a great site

Wow Kelley - you mentioned animals having skin allergies because of the dampness this year. I have a cat we have been calling bald @ss because he's licked himself almost bald! The vet chalked it up to nerves back in the spring. Interesting...

But anyway, on your ant solutions...I'm organic as long as I can be...I mean, I really want to be...but once I get freaked about something eating my house, I kinda lose it and will go chemical. We put out about 10 ant baits on the kitchen counter - we still get them in the kitchen. This is separate from the ant trail going under the siding...though that is also outside the kitchen...but there are hundreds there, and only about 20 or so make it to the kitchen counter. I don't know where the others are going, or what they're eating.

topcat - my ants are going in and out...and they're going out with something...just can't tell what it is they have. It's white-ish, so I'm thinking its not wood...I just can't imagine what it is - unless they will eat drywall? hmm... Thanks for the link, it was helpful and I've got it bookmarked. The guinea pig thing is a problem...wish I could think of something you could do with that.

* * * *

The white could be larvae if they are moving their nest.

ant larvae

* * * *

I love the sweet scents wafting in the breeze. I stop to admire the vibrant colors of all living things. And people think me odd. Then ODD I am!!!

http://community.webshots.com/user/flugnash

Mary, I feel for your cat's baldness. Does the cat go out? If so, I would put stock in the grass molds. 'Course, even still, as contractors we are seeing molds invade the home do to the outside soil. I know I found some in mine that was never there before.

Regardless, if your cat is still uncomfortable, I would recommend asking your vet what an appropriate dose of Benadryl would be for that particular feline (if cats can even take it?). My affected pet is a 65 lb. lab mix, so the dosage I was told would not apply to you. Steroids are another option, but who wants that? If the case is severe, however, that's where one has to start to apply relief.

Kelley

My dd spilt some sugar today and didn't clean it up properly so now the ants are in the bathroom/sewing room, she will be doing lots of floor washing tomorrow.

Mary I take Amitriptyline, for my fibro, it helps me sleep. Here in Canada it is marketed as an Anti Depressant. Nice to know pets can take it as well.

Steroids certainly work - There's pretty much NO question in the medical community that they do the trick. But they are such a double edged sword - for all the good they do, they are not without bad side effects either. I can't imagine anyone WANTING them unless seriously necessary.

Personally I've never taken any, but as a LONG time pet owner I've had to administer them to 3 dogs over time. Once was to heal from being hit by a car, once was used seasonally due to allergies that would not respond to Benadryl, And lastly was just a quick dose to get my current lab some relief so he could finish out his allergy attack on a maintenance dose of benadryl.

I also belong to a pets bulletin board and sometimes we get off topic, but I don't think that talking about grass molds is off topic on a gardening board. I think the same hazzards that affect our plants are the same one's that affect he pets. Maybe all of us.

Kelley

Ortho has a great product call Home Pest Control it is fantastic on ants. Just follow the directions.

* * * *

Mike Maier
aka
The Plant Doc

I just skimmed what had already been posted so if your trouble with ants is keeping them away sprinkle cinnamon around whatever you want them away from. We've used it along the patio door at my daughter's apt. and it's kept them away.

as fast as I get rid of them in one part of the house they come in from somewhere else!! I will try the cinnamon too and see if it will work.

I have cleaned my washer every day before doing laundry and rinse it with vinegar afterwards and still it is crawling with them.