Quite a while ago I wrote a post about having discovered that corn meal would get rid of ants. We had an ant problem on our patio in Hawaii so we put a few mounds of corn meal in the problem areas as well as by our desert rose where ants were constantly infesting. In a matter of days they were gone. We wondered if it was just a fluke, but the ants haven't come back........ so far.
Art's sister, Kay told us that they were suddenly having a terrible problem with tiny black ants that seemed to swarm over the kitchen counter and floor whenever they seemed to smell food. I was shocked to see so many ants even under their dish rack.
I remembered the corn meal cure and Kay decided to try it right away.
I didn't see the ants hauling the corn meal away but within a couple of days they were down to just a few scavenger ants wandering around. In another couple more of days there were none.
Kay was using a diluted alcohol spray to kill ants, but the corn meal quickly got rid of ants on the floor too.
It was a little eerie.
Apparently the ants aren't able to digest the corn meal.
Art's sister and brother-in-law are thrilled. However, I'm looking at my cornbread a whole different way now.
Art's sister, Kay told us that they were suddenly having a terrible problem with tiny black ants that seemed to swarm over the kitchen counter and floor whenever they seemed to smell food. I was shocked to see so many ants even under their dish rack.
I didn't see the ants hauling the corn meal away but within a couple of days they were down to just a few scavenger ants wandering around. In another couple more of days there were none.
Kay was using a diluted alcohol spray to kill ants, but the corn meal quickly got rid of ants on the floor too.
It was a little eerie.
Apparently the ants aren't able to digest the corn meal.
Art's sister and brother-in-law are thrilled. However, I'm looking at my cornbread a whole different way now.
Half Borax and half sugar dampened with water work great as well.
ReplyDeleteI love your sense of humor as you rethink your corn bread!! You are very funny and uplifting. Thanks, Kay.
ReplyDeleteoh no. I'm making cornbread today! We're doomed!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the corn meal would attract different sorts of problems though, like mice.
ReplyDeleteI wonder where all those cornmeal stuffed ants go.
ReplyDeleteYou will probably never be able to eat cornbread now without thinking of ants.
I wonder what would happen if you pour it directly on the hill?
ReplyDeleteWhat a super good idea! I'll try it. We have tons of ants here too.
ReplyDeleteif it works, do it!
ReplyDeleteWow! That's amazing. (Just don't eat too much cornbread yourself!) Art could rig up a camera to catch them in action, and follow them! Wonder about big red (fire) ants outdoors? They might want cooked and buttered cornbread. Must remember this. DrumMajor
ReplyDeleteThank goodness we don't have fire ants in Hawaii... I think...
DeleteYou share awesome tips. Did you know mochi = a bowl of rice?!
ReplyDeleteAloha, KK
It's hard to forget with Mom constantly reminding me because I love mochi and it's not really good for me since I am pre-diabetic.
DeleteThanks Kay. I will be ready with the corn meal this summer.
ReplyDeleteYou really have some wonderful tips on your blog. I did not know that about corn meal. We don’t have a problem right now but we do sometimes in the summer, so I’ll have to remember this tip. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteWell, well, well. Who knew? This is great. But tell me, where do those corn stuffed ants go? I have used cucumber peelings to get rid of sugar ants before. Hopefully, I won't have to remember this remedy, but one never knows when the ants will invade.
ReplyDeleteI'll certainly think of your blog when I eat my next cornbread. At least it is not roaches lol
ReplyDeleteL...w
I don't think any food will kill a cockroach. They have cast iron stomachs.
DeleteArt's Air Force buddy friend, Ed e-mailed this recipe from an entomologist friend.
ReplyDeleteRecipe:
1. Place into 2 cup liquid measuring cup:
1 teaspoon boric acid powder
3 Tablespoon table sugar
2. Fill to 1 3/4 cup line with warm tap water.
3. Stir to dissolve completely.
Pour mixture into small (condiment type) containers along with an absorbent material (cotton, etc.). Place filled containers in areas of current ant activity. Moldy or fouled baits should be replaced with fresh ones. Allow ants to feed in the stations for up to one or even two months.
This remedy is toxic to people and pets, however, so you do have to be very careful.