Around Montmorillon

How do you get rid of your ants ?

In the house it's no problem as we still have some old ant powder and it works every time, but the problem is in the poly tunnel. We've never had a problem before but last year we had loads of them farming aphids on the cucumbers and melons.  

Tried:
Various herbs and spices.
Chili and garlic juice.
Water both hot and cold.
Coffee
Lemon
Washing up liquid
Ant traps
Ladybirds
Lizards

The buggers are already coming back so we have got some new ant powder but it doesn't seem to be doing the job. We don't want to use the old stuff as I think it's very poisons and we don't want to risk it leaching in to the soil and our vegetables.

Suggestions ?

Have you tried those circular ant traps? They contain some kind of gel that the ants then carry back to their nest and kills of all their mates. This sort of thing...
I've no idea of their toxicity to plants but the beauty is you don't actually put the stuff on your plants at all. They're been very effective here.

(Mon-01-03-2021, 15:17 PM)Brian Wrote: [ -> ]Have you tried those circular ant traps? They contain some kind of gel that the ants then carry back to their nest and kills of all their mates. This sort of thing...
I've no idea of their toxicity to plants but the beauty is you don't actually put the stuff on your plants at all. They're been very effective here.

We did try some in the house a few years ago, but they kept walking around them. Have not looked recently, but we're not too keen on using anything non bio.

OK. Two further suggestions:
1. An insecticide based on neem oil such as this.
2. Good old vinaigre d'amenagement

Bon chance!

(Mon-01-03-2021, 16:44 PM)Brian Wrote: [ -> ]OK. Two further suggestions:
1.  An insecticide based on neem oil such as this.
2.  Good old vinaigre d'amenagement

Bon chance!

Forgot to mention, we had tried vinegar. We've tried so many things I've forgotten.

Not tried the neem oil stuff, that could be worth a look but I don't see it mentioning ants and it does sound expensive. It's only a few € but we have wasted so much money in the past on organic things for pests that it puts you off as none of them work.

We hand collect Caterpillars, Colorado Beetle, Stinky Bugs, etc and drown them in soapy water. The aphids tend to stay on one plant so we just spray them with chili juice or soap, and for the Flee Beetles we wave sticky yellow cards around. I'm sure our neighbors think we are mad as they spray everything, but it works and we have the time.

Just those damn ants. But thank you for the suggestions, if you or anyone else has more please post.