We live in a townhome that is built on a cement slab. So the little pavement ants are a constant problem. We have a critter-control service that comes in & baits the little buggers. But one of my neighbors says that they don't like mint. So she sets wet mint tea bags around & this apparently encourages them to go elsewhere... (probably over here to my place...) By the way... if you eat at your laptop, there may be crumbs inside that are drawing the little devils to your machine...