# Ants! (parenthetical used to reach minimum topic length)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-parenthetical-used-to-reach-minimum-topic-length/1032241>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [August 9, 2026, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-parenthetical-used-to-reach-minimum-topic-length/1032241 "2026-08-09T04:41:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Cwturner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Cwturner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cwturner)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2026, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-parenthetical-used-to-reach-minimum-topic-length/1032241/21 "2026-08-10T23:05:27Z")

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I don’t mind ants here and there as long as they stay out of the sugar bowl.  
Think of them as a cleaning crew. I’ve heard that, if we eliminate all ants we will be ankle deep in detritus in no time.

I use the Terro drops but also crush a number so the dead ant pheromone(?) gets the message out.

I can often tell if we have ants by smell before seeing them

CW

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**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2026, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-parenthetical-used-to-reach-minimum-topic-length/1032241/22 "2026-08-10T23:24:36Z")

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> [@Beckdawrek](#):
>
> The key is outdoor treatment.

Yup. After trying all manner of remedies I finally bought a power that is made for the job. Sprinkled it liberally around the entire house perimeter. The ants carry it back to the hive, where it kills the queen. When that happens, the remaining ants move on to someone else’s yard. I didn’t like doing that, but we were being overrun.

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**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2026, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-parenthetical-used-to-reach-minimum-topic-length/1032241/23 "2026-08-10T23:32:19Z")

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The problem with getting rid of ants in the yard is that they serve a pretty useful function out there. They’re breaking down big stuff into smaller stuff, enriching the soil, and aerating it, too. Ants are an important part of your local ecology. Plus, they’re mortal enemies of termites, so if you live an an area with a lot of termites, having healthy ant colonies in the area will help keep the termites in check, at least a little. They also serve as food for a lot of other beneficial critters in your yard. I just don’t want 'em in my house, so the boric acid plays it’s part once or twice a year.

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**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2026, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-parenthetical-used-to-reach-minimum-topic-length/1032241/24 "2026-08-11T18:30:52Z")

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Right. Many people around here call the “Exterminator” for any issues, and the guy comes over and sprays all around the house, killing all the insects.

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**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2026, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ants-parenthetical-used-to-reach-minimum-topic-length/1032241/25 "2026-08-12T04:25:54Z")

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I don’t mind ants in the yard. That’s where they belong. I just don’t want them in my house.

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