Dear Barbara,
It is welcome news that you have enjoyed success through the use of
talcum powder as a control methodology for ants. We were not so fortunate in
our investigations. Maybe Marshall's observation regarding the possible
inclusion of additional components....within the composite Baby Powder dust,
may have an important role in your superb result.
Please do not consider this posting to be adversarial. We have, in the
past, conducted experimental investigations seeking effective ant
Repellants/Controls. Briefly: Our results revealed only two genuinely
effective....easily available substances....which were universally effective
against ants (and cockroaches). These substances were amorphous diatomaceous
earth and POWDERED Boric Acid. Both have demonstrated to be effective to a
very powerful degree. The mechanisms of control differ however. Diatomaceous
earth kills via a dehydration effect; while Boric Acid requires ingestion.
Ants and roaches are "instinctively" fastidious and will clean their
bodies.....especially their feet. Boric Acid is the ONLY acceptably non-toxic
substance we have found for controlling roaches.....throughout the spectrum of
their various visitation methodologies. Boric Acid controlled Every Ant insult
encountered....regardless of extent or type....within 14 days of instituting a
simple application of a 1" wide X 1/16" depth, band of powder, along several
feet of their walkways.....provided a dry powder-line was maintained (water and
heavy moisture will effect a "caking" effect and result in voiding
the effectiveness of the boric acid). Principal walkways are, generally, where
walls meet ceilings, baseboards, countertops, etc., and floor cracks, holes,
etc.
Diatomaceous earth applied, liberally, as a dust, to fire ant
mounds....will result in an instantaneous explosion of chaotic activity.
While this result is visually pleasing to observe....and
does---in a majority of cases----effect a physical movement of the colony, it
rarely succeeds in the immediate (or even eventual) death of the queen: but it
does inflict death on a consequential number of workers. Boric acid powder
DOES result in the eventual death of the queen as a by-product of the physical
activity of the workers......probably because of contaminated food exchange.
Sincerely, Brooks Bradley.
----- Original Message -----
From: Barbara <barba...@tampabay.rr.com>
To: "Matthew McCann" <mmcc...@franciscan.edu>, silver-list@eskimo.com
Subject: CS>Ants (the result)
Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2005 11:12:57 -0400
>
> Hi Everyone,
>
> When we had the discussion how to discourage the ants out of our
> lives I asked questions and got answers :) Someone, don't remember
> who (I apologize) said to use talcum powder. I bought a container
> of Gold Bond medicated Body Powder and used it around the
> baseboards and doors. I had hundreds of ants attacking the new bag
> of dog food, taking it away with them. By the next morning not one
> ant was in the house :))) That was a week ago and still no ants in
> the house.
> I live in Florida, the capitol of the vicious fire ants and they
> are not easy to discourage.
> My heart felt thanks to that person for such an easy solution :)
>
> Barbara
--
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