Predator Vs. Prey: Ants in the house!

Ok welcome all....

Since this is my first HUB, I thought I would touch on an issue which has many homeowners {& non-homeowners} in a bit of a pickle: ANTS!

It all started the other day when the three little crumb-catchers in my house were well . . . dropping crumbs everywhere. You know the Pop-tart variety that stick into the carpet: Barbeque Potato chips, fruit snacks, juice box, yo-gos, strawberries etc. etc. I swear my carpet has become one with the pantry.

But it started to hit home for me when I noticed a dark stain in the corner of the carpet some 8 feet from the tile in the kitchen. I thought to myself . . . "hmmm that looks like a new stain. What the heck?"

So as I got down on my knees to examine the new stain further, I noticed it was fascinating: It was moving! It was a small pack of about 20 ants literally moving in unison carrying {you guessed it} a piece of cotton candy.

Two days later, despite spraying a small amount of Raid, I actually got bit by an ant sitting on the carpet which left a little mark. Felt like a spider bite, but actually looked down and saw the ant. Ouch!

So I thought enough is enougn; it's time to take action.

With summer right around the corner, these pesky yet amazingly resilient little creatures are on the move & invading our homes. The questions is what to do about them?

I know the gut response, which I think is the website for raid: kill bugs dead {www.killsbugsdead.com}; but have you ever really examined what is in those cans for the common cure of these pesky guys?

• Permethrin: .20%
• Pyrethrin: .13%
• Piperonyl Butoxide Technical: .26%
• "Inert Ingrediants:" 99.41%

So what the heck are "inert ingrediants?"

1. Based on lab tests on animals, children may be more sensitive to Permethin than adults. Permethrin is a toxic poison which the US Environmental Protection Agency has classified as a carcinogin because it causes lung tumors. Redness, swelling, blistering & blood. Blindness in children, cell disruption, infertility.
2. Pyrethrins: Generally considered non-toxic, but can have these side effects if ingested, inhaled, or swallowed:

• Coughing
• Difficulty breathing
• Asphyxia (loss of consciousness due to imbalance in oxygen level)
• Vomiting Upset stomach Tremors (if a large amount is swallowed)
• Seizures (if a large amount is swallowed)

3. Piperonyl Butoxide Technical: Piperonyl butoxide has been reported to cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, central nervous system (CNS) depression, and hemorrhagic enteritis when large amounts are ingested orally.

"Inert Ingrediants:"

Now one could read any can of bug spray and assume these couldn't possibly have any adverse side effects. Not true! The chemicals used as "inerts" contain the most dangerous chemicals of them all.

For example, 99.41% of the ingrediants in Raid, that my son so charmingly is displaying for your reading pleasure, are Inert ingrediants.

Now here is the catcher: The EPA has no idea what the bug spray companies actually put in their "inerts," nor does it does it plan on enforcing the "1987 Inert Strategy Requirements for Inerts with Toxic Affects." Citing budget constraints. - Source Memo from Michael Simmons, Associate Assistant Inspector General for Internal and Performance Audits to Victor J. Kimm, Acting Assistant Administrator for Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances, September 17, 1993. -That's all we know to date BTW.

So . . with all this being said, I still need to get rid of the ants.

Here are a few non-toxic 100% safe ways to deal with the ant problem:

• Baby Powder - Ants dont like it and it does actually repel them.
• Hot boiling water: Consulted Grandma on this one and this is 100% effective, albeit messy and could burn you.
• 2 0z Orange oil in a gallon of water- spray liberally
• Grits, pepper & spearment all deter the little guys
• Cinnamon is also a great deterrent: Sams carries 1 lb bags for about $5. The ants definitely don't like cinnamon
• Anoter solution is a damp sponge with sugar on it to stem the wave. They will saturate the sponge and then simply rinse and repeat.
• Cornmeal seems also to help

Here is also a great recipe that kills them on impact:

ANT CONTROL TONIC #1

• 4 to 5 tbsp. cornmeal
• 3 tbsp. bacon grease
• 3 tbsp. baking powder
• 3 packages of yeast

Mix cornmeal & bacon grease into a paste, then add baking powder &

yeast. Spread over area of concern.

& last but not least . . . .There always the magnifying glass or an ant eater.