# Ants-3 Lobstermobster-0 **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 10, 2007, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-3-lobstermobster-0/422235 "2007-10-10T17:22:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sunrazor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sunrazor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunrazor)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2007, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-3-lobstermobster-0/422235/21 "2007-10-10T20:13:03Z")
Erm … I understand that poisons don’t mix with lab animals, but are you far enough away from the lab that you wouldn’t contaminate the animals? Maybe not. Send your supervisor a strongly-worded request that somebody DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE DAMNED ANTS! Deny all knowledge of Lean Cuisine packages (that stuff’s all gone now, anyway.) Basically, make it somebody else’s problem. It won’t get rid of the ants, but at least you can curse someone else’s ineptness instead of THE DAMNED ANTS! ---
**Author:** ![lobstermobster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobstermobster/32/10033_2.png) [@lobstermobster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobstermobster)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2007, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-3-lobstermobster-0/422235/22 "2007-10-10T20:21:13Z")
[QUOTE=Sunrazor] Erm … I understand that poisons don’t mix with lab animals, but are you far enough away from the lab that you wouldn’t contaminate the animals? Maybe not. Send your supervisor a strongly-worded request that somebody DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE DAMNED ANTS! Deny all knowledge of Lean Cuisine packages (that stuff’s all gone now, anyway.) Basically, make it somebody else’s problem. It won’t get rid of the ants, but at least you can curse someone else’s ineptness instead of THE DAMNED ANTS! [/QUOTE] I did try to lead them into my bosses office. I did this a few times actually. Made a crumb trail that was deliberate to ants but undetectable to humans. What REALLY gets me is that between my office and the outside door (we’re ground level) there is the animal receiving room AND the feed room. Both of these rooms contain so many more delicious-to-ants items! They march in a perfect line right past them to my office! ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2007, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-3-lobstermobster-0/422235/23 "2007-10-10T20:31:23Z")
Watch out for [ant ninjas](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=233911). I had good results with ant traps from the grocery store. They’re little plastic disks with holes in the side for the ants to enter and eat the sweet, sweet poison. Larger animals aren’t in danger unless they chew through the plastic. ---
**Author:** ![lobstermobster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobstermobster/32/10033_2.png) [@lobstermobster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobstermobster)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2007, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-3-lobstermobster-0/422235/24 "2007-10-10T20:34:01Z")
[QUOTE=sturmhauke] Watch out for [ant ninjas](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=233911). I had good results with ant traps from the grocery store. They’re little plastic disks with holes in the side for the ants to enter and eat the sweet, sweet poison. Larger animals aren’t in danger unless they chew through the plastic. [/QUOTE] i really doubt they will let me have that ---
**Author:** ![rhythmonly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee59a6/32.png) [@rhythmonly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhythmonly)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2007, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-3-lobstermobster-0/422235/25 "2007-10-10T20:48:05Z")
I’d stay away from the ant trap. A co-worker put one in my cube, thinking that he was doing me a kindness (I’ll just put this here, and it will keep ants away!). The trap attracted enough ants to almost warrant a visit from the Fire Department. I couldn’t use ant spray, so I finally ended up using glass cleaner and all purpose spray lube. My original idea to use spray adhesive and a claw hammer was voted down by Management. ---
**Author:** ![Sunrazor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sunrazor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunrazor)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2007, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-3-lobstermobster-0/422235/26 "2007-10-10T20:50:04Z")
[QUOTE=rhythmonly] I’d stay away from the ant trap. A co-worker put one in my cube, thinking that he was doing me a kindness (I’ll just put this here, and it will keep ants away!). The trap attracted enough ants to almost warrant a visit from the Fire Department. My original idea to use spray adhesive and a claw hammer was voted down by Management. [/QUOTE] Use them on the ants or the co-worker? ---
**Author:** ![SharkB8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@SharkB8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SharkB8)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2007, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-3-lobstermobster-0/422235/27 "2007-10-10T20:56:57Z")
You are truly hilarious! Find their entry point or their point of origin and try cinnamon, and paprika or red pepper. My mom swore by that. I recently bought my first home this summer and on, like, day 2, one of the landscaping mounds had been sponge-like by the colony. I have a dog and didn’t want to kill any nearby plants so I didn’t really want to break out the poison. I’ve heard to use diatomaceous earth, but was too lazy to go to the pool store, so I tried Mom’s home remedy. Their numbers diminished until, voila! No more ants. Have’t seen them since. I know different species react differently to our various ammo, but it’s a worth a shot and inexpensive. Just dump a little pile wherever they’re entering the office,o r if you feel like venturing outside, attack the mound! ¡Vaya con Dios! ---
**Author:** ![lobstermobster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobstermobster/32/10033_2.png) [@lobstermobster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobstermobster)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2007, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-3-lobstermobster-0/422235/28 "2007-10-11T00:58:07Z")
update: I was in another room and I bent over to tie my shoe and an ant fell off the leg of my pants. Nothing says “i’m a filthy animal” to your co-workers you want to impress by having insects fall off you ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2007, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-3-lobstermobster-0/422235/29 "2007-10-11T01:09:05Z")
Dear filthy animal: go to their level. Bring a predator that you can coexist with. What about a praying mantis or twelve? Step 1: Bring in predator Step 2: \ ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2007, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-3-lobstermobster-0/422235/30 "2007-10-11T02:04:32Z")
[QUOTE=OtakuLoki] But that makes it perfect, don’t you see? The anteaters eat the ants. The tigers eat the anteaters. The Tyrannosaurs eat the tigers. And finally the ants have a huge, years-long holiday of feasting, when the Tyrannosaur dies, and they eat it. Which starts the whole cycle over again. [/QUOTE] Yup-that’s that whole cycle o’ life I heard tell of. I suggest diatemacous earth, too. Or ant traps. Or lighter fluid. The evidence would burn away… what kind of ants are they? If they’re carpenter ants–you are screwed, but that would involve management and exterminators and building inspectors. If they’re regular ole picnic ants–try the cayenne or the borax. Love the pic. It’s so lifelike–I’d keep an eye on the one near the equipment–they’re tricky bastards. ---
**Author:** ![bbs2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e495f1/32.png) [@bbs2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbs2k)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2007, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-3-lobstermobster-0/422235/31 "2007-10-11T03:46:01Z")
Apologies for a moment while I break the custom and offer real advice. 50/50 mix of [borax](http://homeparents.about.com/cs/householdtips/a/borax.htm) and sugar. The ants can’t tell the difference and the borax is poisonous. You’re not having any luck on the battle line so let the ants take the poinson back to the source with them. Cram the mixture into wherever they’re gaining entry. It’s not an immediate cure but in the longrun you should be fine. Excuse me while I search online for cheap tickets to Slutsylvania. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2007, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-3-lobstermobster-0/422235/32 "2007-10-11T11:10:48Z")
Right. Do me a favor and see if they’ve got any specials. A weekend trip sounds about nice. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2007, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-3-lobstermobster-0/422235/33 "2007-10-11T11:58:32Z")
Be careful, though. Slutsylvania Airlines is notorious for overbooking… ---
**Author:** ![Grossbottom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ba8739/32.png) [@Grossbottom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grossbottom)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2007, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-3-lobstermobster-0/422235/34 "2007-10-11T12:48:08Z")
How about a nice gecko? I have a couple baby geckos that are running loose in my guest bathroom, they followed a trail of sugar ants and I’m tired of scooping them out of the shower. ---
**Author:** ![Encinitas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Encinitas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Encinitas)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2007, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-3-lobstermobster-0/422235/35 "2007-10-11T15:58:33Z")
The only way to stop an ant invasion is to take action before it really gets underway. When I first notice ants scouting my territory, I capture them and cut off their toes. Then I release them to return to their nest to relay my warning! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2007, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-3-lobstermobster-0/422235/36 "2007-10-11T16:24:07Z")
[QUOTE=Grossbottom] How about a nice gecko? I have a couple baby geckos that are running loose in my guest bathroom, they followed a trail of sugar ants and I’m tired of scooping them out of the shower. [/QUOTE] the gecko _might_ eat the ants…when it’s not trying to get you to switch your car insurance company that is, ask yourself which is worse, tiny, inoffensive insects, or a reptilian car insurance salesman (is that redundant?) ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2007, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-3-lobstermobster-0/422235/37 "2007-10-11T17:05:22Z")
I used a commercial ant-killer that was just borax in sugar water that seemed to work quite well. If you use it, make sure you put it on something non-absorbent like saran wrap or wax paper; I put some directly on my basement tile and the stuff dried like sticky cement. ---
**Author:** ![akira5822](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@akira5822](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akira5822)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2007, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-3-lobstermobster-0/422235/38 "2007-10-11T17:27:14Z")
Lobster, Thank you for vastly improving what was looking to be a fairly shitty day. I am yours to command. ---
**Author:** ![akira5822](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@akira5822](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akira5822)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2007, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-3-lobstermobster-0/422235/39 "2007-10-11T17:33:00Z")
BTW a flamethower works lol ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2007, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-3-lobstermobster-0/422235/40 "2007-10-11T17:41:45Z")
[QUOTE=OtakuLoki] I’m sure this might be a stupid question, but is borax a poison, or not? If not, can you use the powder to place barriers along their ingress avenues? [/QUOTE] I thought that said botox the first time I read that and I had a really clever reply. Sadly it doesn’t work with what you really said. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-3-lobstermobster-0/422235.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-3-lobstermobster-0/422235.md?page=3)