# I pit Ants **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 25, 2006, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-ants/349835 "2006-03-25T05:38:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2006, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-ants/349835/1 "2006-03-25T05:38:36Z")
You swarming poison-laden motherfuckers from hell. You disgusting, brainless, purpose-lacking pieces of dried up piss that should all be separated from your 6 legs one by one and then thrown into a vat of pure Raid. But, before you die from the chemicals, while you’re still twitching from your failing nervous system, you should be thrust into an incinerator to burn into dust. Then you should be spread over the world’s oceans so you can be covered in the shit of fish, whales, and seagulls for all eternity. Apologies to the fish, whales and seagulls that must allow their crap to touch these abhorrent, flesh-eating bastards. I come home after visiting with friends, brush my teeth, undress, turn the light off and climb into bed. I feel a stinging on my arm. “What the hell?” I say…and turn on the light. There is a nest of red fire ants on my bed. On my pillow. On the very place where I fall asleep, a place where I am at my most vulnerable. Anything can happen to me when I’m dead to the world. I take reasonable precautions to make sure nothing can harm me: I lock my door and windows, my smoke detector is on, my birds act as an alarm, and so on. You invade this security, and you do so with utmost speed. You weren’t there last night. You weren’t there this morning. No, in less than a day, you converge on the place where I dream of nightmares such as you. After leaping out of bed to stare dumbfounded at this swarm while frantically brushing the dozen ants who have attached themselves to my right arm, shoulder, side and back, I feel an all-too-familiar stinging sensation on my feet. I don’t even need to look down, I don’t want to see any more. Yes, they are on the [floor](http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/6473/prelim0070hv.jpg). On my [clothes](http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/7716/prelim0025ou.jpg). On my [pillow](http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/8863/prelim0069fg.jpg). On the [bed](http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/7386/prelim0057se.jpg). Under my [bed](http://img60.imageshack.us/img60/3889/prelim0033cr.jpg). HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN? I call my apartments emergency maintenance number, near tears and hyperventilating. Their response? "Yeah, it’s a problem we’ve been having. The pest control comes around once a month. The ants weren’t here last night, you say? Gee! I can’t spray - the pest control guys have to do that on Monday. Yeah, I know you can’t sleep tonight because there are ants all over your bedroom. What do you want us to do about it? We know it’s called an emergency number, but that’s for things like water leaks and loss of heat. Call the office tomorrow, maybe they can send someone out then. Oh, the office is closed? I guess it’s Monday then. " I cannot express the sheer despair I feel. The rage. The jitters. Every time my hair brushes my shoulder, I freak out. Everytime I see a dot out of the corner of my eye, I gasp. I have to sleep on my couch tonight. ‘Sleep’ ha! I have to lay awake tonight and hope that they don’t decide to attack the rest of my apartment. Even though I doused the bedroom with an entire can of Raid, ruining several books, my brand-new down comforter, and possibly my bedside table, I have no assurance that more won’t come from whatever pathway they are traveling from Dante’s seventh circle of hell. I pit you, shitass-fucking, crab infested whore loving heaps of bile-inducing scum ants. ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2006, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-ants/349835/2 "2006-03-25T05:45:30Z")
Call pest control and send your apartment manager the bill for the overtime they’ll charge. Sounds like something they cannot contest. You cannot be expected to live in an ant farm “until Monday”. ---
**Author:** ![Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazon_Floozy_Goddess)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2006, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-ants/349835/3 "2006-03-25T05:47:48Z")
That’s rotten that pest control won’t come right away. Have you been able to see where the ants are coming and going? You might be able to trace where the entrance is and seal it…If not, some store-bought traps might keep them at bay for now. Fire ants are terrible. When I was about 8 or 9 I was playing in the garden once, and a sudden stinging pain made me look at my arm where about 50 of them were attached to me. I feel for ya. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2006, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-ants/349835/4 "2006-03-25T05:55:17Z")
Scoot your bed away from the wall Remove any dustruffles or other good climbing surfaces that may touch the floor Remove bedding and wash Spray the area right at the legs of your bed with poison and or sprinke the affected area with boric acid powder Sleep soundly and mock the lesser beings. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2006, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-ants/349835/5 "2006-03-25T06:10:55Z")
I second the vote to see if you can find where they’re coming in. If you can block their entrance, you may be able to keep any more out. Of course, you still have to take care of the ones that got in. I feel your pain. Or, actually, my hubby does – a few years ago while trying to push our car out of a field that was ankle-deep in mud, he stepped in a fire ant hill and ended up with so many bites on his foot and ankle that he had to undergo three rounds of steroids and antibiotics, and has scars all over his foot to this day from the nasty little buggers. They are EEEEVIL! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2006, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-ants/349835/6 "2006-03-25T06:14:35Z")
It looks like the Raid has killed the majority of them off, although I still see some signs of movement. I can’t get in there enough to move my bed without getting bitten by the survivors and/or relatives that are just waiting for my tasty flesh. I couldn’t possibly sleep in there even if I removed the bedding and sprayed - I’m just too freaked out. I SO want to call an emerency pest control, but I’m afraid of getting shafted by the apartment manager. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2006, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-ants/349835/7 "2006-03-25T06:23:02Z")
Can you use ordinary household ant baits with them? This summer I have been having constant infestations with various varieties of ants. Each time I put out some of the liquid ant bait and then three weeks ago I discovered packs of baits that are like cockroach baits. You just chuck them near where the ants are streaming, they attract the ants who then go back to the nest and the poison kills off. I haven’t seen one ant in my flat since the day after I unpacked the four baits. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2006, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-ants/349835/8 "2006-03-25T06:30:30Z")
> [@drachillix](#): > > Scoot your bed away from the wall > > Remove any dustruffles or other good climbing surfaces that may touch the floor > > Remove bedding and wash > > Spray the area right at the legs of your bed with poison and or sprinke the affected area with boric acid powder Even better than chemicals for keeping them from climbing the legs of your bed is to set the legs of your bed down in a pie-pan with an inch of water in the bottom. They try to invade, they drown. _evil grin_ ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2006, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-ants/349835/9 "2006-03-25T06:35:45Z")
> [@LunaV](#): > > I come home after visiting with friends, brush my teeth, undress, turn the light off and climb into bed. We have some room to share till you get the situation worked out. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2006, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-ants/349835/10 "2006-03-25T06:50:39Z")
> [@Lissa](#): > > Even better than chemicals for keeping them from climbing the legs of your bed is to set the legs of your bed down in a pie-pan with an inch of water in the bottom. They try to invade, they drown. _evil grin_ Oooo I like your way of thinking… I gathered enough courage to inspect my room, with the last of my Raid in one hand and my flashlight in the other. I pulled my bedding off and my mattress away from the wall. Had the heebie-jeebies the entire time. I have NO idea where they came from. There must be some small crack in the wall by the floor covered by my bed, invisible to me, because that’s where the trail of ant corpses ends. I’m going to try and get some sleep now - on my couch. Fucking ants…you ruined a good day. ---
**Author:** ![usar\_jag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f0a364/32.png) [@usar\_jag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usar_jag)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2006, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-ants/349835/11 "2006-03-25T06:51:16Z")
Must…resist…predictable…response… ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2006, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-ants/349835/12 "2006-03-25T06:51:49Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > We have some room to share till you get the situation worked out. 😉 Thanks, I’ll be right over. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2006, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-ants/349835/13 "2006-03-25T06:54:01Z")
> [@usar\_jag](#): > > Must…resist…predictable…response… Please no mention of ant overlords, please! I just couldn’t take it! :eek: sigh…if you must, wait till I’m asleep! I’m sure this will be funny in a year or twelve…right? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2006, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-ants/349835/14 "2006-03-25T07:03:58Z")
Crack in the wall-what about windows? Years ago, I noticed the floor under my one window was just crawling with ants-turns out the window frame had a sort of crack in it. We got that fixed up right away, thank god. I hope you get rid of those little bastards soon. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2006, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-ants/349835/15 "2006-03-25T14:22:25Z")
And here I thought the time I was about to climb into bed and a big wasp landed on my pillow was bad! ---
**Author:** ![MizGrand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cdc98d/32.png) [@MizGrand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MizGrand)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2006, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-ants/349835/16 "2006-03-25T15:54:04Z")
I, for one, welcome our… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2006, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-ants/349835/17 "2006-03-25T20:25:08Z")
I feel exactly the same way you do about ants. Useless little fuckers. Note: Use ant baits OR poison. Not both. ---
**Author:** ![yBeayf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e274bd/32.png) [@yBeayf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yBeayf)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2006, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-ants/349835/18 "2006-03-25T20:57:09Z")
I’ve had ants in my bed (well, really a mattress on the floor) twice, in two separate apartments. And I don’t even eat in bed or anything. It sucks. I solved the problem by temporarily removing the mattress and _drenching_ the carpet below with multiple cans of insecticide. No more ants. ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2006, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-ants/349835/19 "2006-03-25T22:55:25Z")
\*\*RSSchen \*\* - THWAP 😃 Thanks for the advice, **Ginger**. I’m on my way to Target to buy one of the two. Whichever is safe around birds. \*\*yBeafy \*\* - Twice?? That’s even worse! ::shudder:: I’d run away screaming if this happened to me again. Update: After calling my apartment manager every hour today and not getting a response, I called the emergency number again and got the same guy from last night. I said I hadn’t heard from anyone and wanted to know what was being done about the problem, he said he’d be out there at 4pm to spray. I was able to leave work early and got there at 4.06. He’d already been and gone, leaving an empty can of Raid sitting in my living room. I don’t know if he did any more than that, and there was no communication left for me. My sheets, comforter, and clothes are in three plastic bags waiting to be sent to the laundromat. I’ve vacuumed every inch my bedroom three times over and inspected my mattress and boxspring for ants. I think I’m safe. Of course, that’s what I though last night… I’m now off to Target and Home Depot to see what manner of death they can provide for the nasty motherfuckers that have left pus-filled, swollen welts all over my arm and side. Want a [picture?](http://img74.imageshack.us/img74/9356/prelim0125mi.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2006, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-ants/349835/20 "2006-03-25T22:57:46Z")
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