Ants don't die in the microwave

yes, the tiny bit of water works great. I actually spilled some if the contents onto my wet sink counter & they went for it. I think ut is so funnt to see snts surrounding a little puddle of water on the counted. They are drawn to water as much as food.

I also found out, in doing some research on pet-safe flea eradication products, that ants cannot handle peppermint oil at all. They totally pack up and move house. And a good dose of it will keep them away for longer than a year.

THIS is the product I recommend:



I can't say enough good about it. It does contain clove oil as well as peppermint, so do not use it directly ON pets. But it can very safely be used on their bedding, and to help keep sleep areas bug-free. I tried it on the ants that were forever coming in under our front door, and I have not seen them in almost 2 years!!! It's the only thing that's worked that effectively!

It took care of the flea situation lickety-split, too. It also does not stain or leave a sticky residue. It smells clean and refreshing, and the scent fades within a few days, in case peppermint and clove are not your thing. (It actually reminds me of Christmas, though.) It's nice. And to me, it's worth every penny!

Thank you very much MuseumGhost. That sounds like wonderful stuff. I actually like that odor. I was going to mix up essential peppermint oil & water in a spray bottle to squirt them on their trails. This might be easier.

:d :d :d :d Hmm. <------These are supposed to be laughing faces.

I know where my dead ant cemetary comes from....I squirt them with krud kutted & leave them to dry so they don't stink when I clean up their little bodies....& sometimes I get distracted & forget to clean them up for awhile.....you wiuld think dead ant bodies would discourage others from trodding the same death path they took...even instinct should kick in with that but NOOOOOOOO!

Ants, like roaches, are ancient critters. I guess they must be extremely hardy to have survived since the beginning of time.

Bugs are the hardiest & adapt. Even worming horses has become a challenge because the worms have built up a resistance to the meds given to kill them. It has become necessary to cycle through different ones in order to catch all the worms. I am actually surprised bugs haven't become immune to the insecticides....actually some may have.

That's one good reason why going back to natural options is often best.

If you can't completely eradicate them, at least you can strongly discourage them.

Cleaning up the dead ant bodies---it's essential, because, yeah, I've seen them cannibalize each other's dried out husks. buhhhhuhuhuhuhhhhh.....

They just walk around the dead bodies when I spray with the Krud Kutter (cleaning spray) & let them dry up on my counter top because I hate the odor they give off otherwise. Maybe they don't like the taste of the krud Kutter or they have their senses on a greater prize. Even when I keep the kitchen spittless the dang scouts are out searching for something

Supposedly the microwaves will kill them but they have learned to walk to the cooler spots in the microwave.

From what I read there are several theories as to why.....yes, SometimesPsychotic, that is one if them. The other was that there is not the amount of fluid in their little bodies for the waves to make what little fluid inside of them heat up & kill them. The other theory has to do with their exoskeleton protects them.

I would imagine that larger ants would not survive the microwaves like the huge red ants I grew up with in So. Calif or the even larger red velvet ant (known as the cow killer which is sctually a non-flying wasp that packs a horrible sting). I am sure they wouldn't survive.

Oh my gosh.....before I could get anything mixed up to spray, we had 9 inches of snow & temps in the low 20's (F). My kitchen sink was cleaned of all food, my dishes in my dish washer are rinsed perfectly clean because my old dishwasher doesn't clean food off dishes it like bakes anything on instead......so........

I brought dinner dishes down, rinsed them off, opened my dishwasher & tje whole bottkm of the dishwasher was FILLED with ants.

I wondered why I hadn't seen them on the counter the figured it was clean & with the cokd weather they went back to thrir ant colony.

WRONG!!! They fiubd their way ibto the dishwasher....why????? I realized my floor heating duct is right in front of the dishwasher & it was nice & warm in there so thoysands of snts thoyght it was the perfect place to get & stay warm.

I was so upset I got my poisin bug spray out & sprayed them inside the dishwasher. Ugh, tgen I realized I strayed the dishes in there too. Well, I let them dry & brushed up the dead ant bodies & washed out the inside then ran the dishwasher with really HOT water hoping it will get tid of any of the poison particles. That was so irritating & disgusting. The snds actuslly came in through the kitchen cabinet around the dishwasher.

Everyone around here is complaining tgst we got no break from the bugs this year even with the cold temps & snow we have had. Very unususl from other years. The pouring rain after the snow brings in the bugs too. There are ateas around my house that are covered with decking that pest control can't even access to my battle eill have to be dkne from within. At least the ants are iut if the mucrowave after cleaning it.

Thanks for the update eskie. Hope that's the last you see of them. Ants are still making their mark down under. Might have to check the dish washer. I am happy that the peaches have all been picked from the tree and only a few remain in the fridge. I did have some sitting on the washing machine for want of another place to put them. I suspect that the critters could smell the peaches from outside.

The weather is warm despite its being autumn. I was met at the front door by a huntsman spider today. Uggg......

They are HUGE. I actually left the huge spider I killed laying on my basement floor to warn any others what their fate will be if they show themselves around me.

Have never seen bugs so bad as this year.

I like the way you think. Hope the other spideys take note.