Help! Ant Dilemma!

[LauraJean]

I just walked out into my kitchen and discovered a couple dozen TINY ants romping around all over my stove! I don't know where they came from, they showed up rather suddenly.

I am Buddhist, so I don't kill any living being. So since killing them is not an option, does anyone know what I can do to deter them? Normally when I see a regular black ant in my house I just pick him up and escort him outside. But these little buggers are TINY!

Seems to me I've heard various things over the years, but I'll be darned if I can remember any now that I need to. Something about putting mint leaves on the counter, or something like that?

Any ideas on how to deter them would be great. My stove is a smooth top and nice and clean, and my counters are clean. I don't leave any food out.

 

[VickiLynn]

I don't know what would deter them, but what if you put some sugar or syrup on a plate to attract them. Once they are all together, take them out on the plate?

 

[abifae]

sprinkle wormwood around your floorboards.

i'm not sure if they hate it or it covers their trails so they don't go passed....

but it works!!

i think it covers up their own trail smells because i've heard it works with cayenne pepper as well. wormwood has no chance of staining though.

 

[Lady Henevere]

I have heard that ants won't cross a line of cornstarch or talc.

 

[patandchickens]

Powdered cloves, or (if you have it) clove oil is even better. They are strongly repelled by it; put it wherever you see them coming in.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[LauraJean]

Powdered cloves, or (if you have it) clove oil is even better. They are strongly repelled by it; put it wherever you see them coming in.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

"Have fun??"

Here's me, trying to safely catch and release ants: LOL.
Too bad they don't make itty-bitty have-a-heart traps.

I wonder where I can get clove oil..... I actually really like the smell of cloves, so that's a win-win.

 

[mlynd]

we get what is called tooth ache remiddy an its clove oil we buy it at cvs it has a red cross on the box

 

[mamaluv321]

Just an FYI, mint is a nuerotoxin for ants. Not sure about clove, but I know it is a very effective weed killer...

 

[LauraJean]

Just an FYI, mint is a nuerotoxin for ants. Not sure about clove, but I know it is a very effective weed killer...

Thank you! My ex is an exterminator so I may very well be mixing that up! Good to know.

 

[k0xxx]

You could possibly use a small, low powered hand vacuum, and then dump them outside. Maybe slightly dampen a paper towel and gently lay it over them. IF they adhere to it, put the paper towel outside to dry. I don't really know, you could end up crushing the little buggers in the workings of the vacuum or drowning them on the paper towel, as I'm just guessing.