Frelling ant invasion

[LT Garrix]

Ahhh, I love fall/late summer in SoCal, NOT!!!! That is the time of year the ants decide to come indoors. I live in an apartment, ground floor. I have pretty much sprayed the entire perimeter, they were coming in from across the patio, but I killed those off. Now I'm still finding them. Problem is, I have no idea where they are coming from. I never see more than about 5 at a time so I can't track them. I've checked all the routes they were using last year, but that's not how they are coming in this year.

They are driving me nuts. The only good thing is that they aren't the biting variety.

This is made even more fun by the fact that I have cats, so I can't indescriminantly spray around the place. I really hated going through this last year and still hate it. I just had to vent about it. If I could just find where the frelling things are coming in...

I checked all the pipes and under the sinks and that's not it.

[Kathleen]

They have granules that you can put out that will kill household insects, like ants, that are not harmful to pets or plants. You should talk to your exterminator and ask them about it.

[BrowderChick]

Or place those ant traps that stick so the cats cant steal them.

[LT Garrix]

I think I need to complain to management and have them spray. Knowing my like they are coming in from the neighbor's. I have one neighbor on the back wall, but two neighbor's garages are on the side wall. Last time one set of ants was coming through one of the other neighbor's garages.

[BrowderChick]

Yeah I would be making a call. Make sure when they do come to spray that you take your cats out for the day and dont leave food out.

[Kathleen]

Yours or the cats food. And cover any plants you may have in the house.

Better yet, the ant bombs might be just as effective. Just set them off, take the cats out about 30 minutes. Then you come back in just long enough to open a window in each room and turn on some fans (or A/C) and then leave again for 3-4 hours. When you come back, the house will be cleared out so that it's safe for you and your pets.

[LT Garrix]

I need them to spray outside. I'm sure my close proximity to the dumpster is a factor. They normally swarm all over that thing. I haven't had the AC on for a few days so it's not really appreciably cooler in here then out there.

I've already had to spray the room where the cat food is. They got into that once already. Thankfully my boys won't eat food off the floor.

[Kathleen]

Doesn't your landlord have to pay for that?

[BrowderChick]

I would definately call the landlord and have him pay for everything that needs to be done.

[Kathleen]

Yeah, you shouldn't have to pay for something where you're not in the wrong. You just live there! Just take care of those kitties so they don't get sick. Their little noses and systems are so much more sensitive than ours. Good luck to ya and let us know what happens!!

[LT Garrix]

I honestly don't know if pest control is part of the deal here. I should look at my lease. I know I did get a carpet cleaning when I renewed my lease. That's always nice.

I hate to do anything that involves removing the cats from the premises. I don't have anywhere to take them and they really don't travel well. Mostly Tigger, he's a big howler who sets off his brother.

[Kathleen]

You don't have a park or somewhere close by where you could go and spend some time?

[Tjapu]

Ant traps work pretty well in the Spring when the Northeast US has it's worst ant invasion season. FIrst off the traps are self contained and when the worker ant walks in it returns to the nest and poisons the rest. I have 3 cats and manage to keep the trap on the outside windowsills, under the fridge, under the stove, under the sink, and under radiators.

For other insects ( mostly roachs ) boric acid in cabinets and lining the outside of doorsills help a lot. It burns their feet and unless ingested in massive amounts is not highly toxic to pets and children.

[BrowderChick]

The ant traps also have a sticky bottom so that they cant be taken away. :yes:

But I think the landlord should be addressed to the source and thats probably the dumpster.

[LT Garrix]

Yeah, I need new ant traps. The ones we have are old enough to not be effective anymore.

Kathleen, my boys don't do the great outdoors. There is a nearby park, but I don't think pets are allowed. And if they were, the dog scent would freak them out. And if there were a dog there, oh boy, not sure that would go well. Smokie isn't afraid of dogs, but Tigger fears his own shadow. Of course, they have never been near a dog outside, only in the vet's office. Nothing like seeing your cat going over to investigate a 140 lb Rotweiller. I grabbed him and brought him back over to my side of the room where he sat next to a bassett hound. The staff at the vet's flipped over seeing him next to the dog.

[mgraylorn]

I found out my vet also boards cats. You might check to see if your vet would board your "kids" for a day. If so, you might set up an appointment with your landlord or an extermination service to bomb your apartment while your cats were being boarded.

[LT Garrix]

I still need to find a vet for my boys. They haven't been ill since we moved, but thier shots are coming due. That's another traumatic experience for them. Actually anything involving getting in a car is traumatic for Tigger. :rolleyes:

When we first moved to Cali, we had them flown out to us. When we went to the airport to pick them up, we knew they were coming. I could hear Smokie crying on the baggage cart. Nothing like having the entire baggage claim area stare at you to get a look at your kitties. Tigger was actually too petrified to do anything until we were in the car and had to listen to him howl for the entire 70 minute trip home.

Hopefully the ant problem can be solved without a bug bomb. I was able to get through it last year, but it took about a week. But, if I have to bomb the boys may be spending the day at the vets. Lucky them. Not.

[fermicat]

My Mom has the ant problem year-round (in Georgia). She is constantly spraying them and putting out traps, but the problem continues. I keep telling her it is time for professional help -her stuff just isn't working. She needs to get some pest control company in there that offers some kind of guarantee.

Good luck with your ant problem. You should definitely see if that is something your landlord will do. It really is in their best interests to keep pests out of their property.

[I-am-so-Johns-girl]

Ant traps work pretty well in the Spring when the Northeast US has it's worst ant invasion season. FIrst off the traps are self contained and when the worker ant walks in it returns to the nest and poisons the rest. I have 3 cats and manage to keep the trap on the outside windowsills, under the fridge, under the stove, under the sink, and under radiators.

For other insects ( mostly roachs ) boric acid in cabinets and lining the outside of doorsills help a lot. It burns their feet and unless ingested in massive amounts is not highly toxic to pets and children.
:spew: I have this mental picture of these ants jumping up and down say "Ouch, ouch, ouch" because their feet are burning...LOL!
:roflmao:

[scaper4eva]

i hate flying ants in summer they appear from no where and get everywhere!

[LT Garrix]

I'm just glad they aren't fire ants. Had them in Texas and they are not pleasant. Though I have to admit that they did stay outside. We never had them inside. But it did make playing in the yard a bit dangerous.

I'll pick up disks on the way home from work today, but again, the problem is I don't know where they are coming from. I may have to move the truck out of the garage so I can take a look at that side. It's technically a 2 car garage but you have to park right against the wall to fit them both in there. I hate moving the truck in the garage because I almost took off the rear fender last time. I was trying not to scrape the mirror on the wall. I really hate driving that thing. The car on the other hand I can put right up against the door frame even though it's the passenger side against the wall because I drive it every day.

Thanks for all the advice and support. I'm gonna win this war. :D