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gecko · 08-19-2014, 01:08 PM

We've picked up an ant colony at a two month stay in Oregon. Thought we 'd eradicated all with ant spray and ant traps, but after moving to a Northern California location and leaving the Airstream fir a week....THEY'RE BACK!!!

Our interior is spotless and scrubbed regularly.

Anybody tried an ant/flea "bomb"? Any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

terryV · 08-19-2014, 01:27 PM

My mother used to leave a lid on the counter with a little pile of a sugar and borax mixture when ants invaded her Airstream. It didn't seem to matter what kind of ants they were, they would take it back to the nest for the whole gang to enjoy, and later they would wake up dead.

HowieE · 08-19-2014, 02:27 PM

You may have water somewhere in the walls or floor. Ants need it just like anything else.

I found mine in the paper honeycomb in the door of my old SOB. Used to watch them go to and from the door till I got the panel off.

urnmor · 08-19-2014, 02:33 PM

Just a thought do you have an exterminator that checks for termites etc. If so you might ask him for some ant killer or even have him spray your Airstream. I also carry, based on recommendations from other post, Borax and place it around my tires, jack stand etc or any other object they can climb. Unfortuately it does not prevent them from falling from the trees.

heslinhotel · 08-19-2014, 02:37 PM

Gecko
I was invaded at Carowinds park near Charlotte NC. Raid makes a water activated fumigater. Just open all hatches and drawers and close top vents. Also be sure all pilot lights are turned off. Next day open all windows and start ceiling fan to air out. It was very effective for me.
Steve

BoldAdventure · 08-19-2014, 04:30 PM

Wayward · 08-19-2014, 06:12 PM

We have always used the baits when black ants show up at the house. it takes a few days for them to get enough back to the nest to kill them off.

Just recently we noticed the Ortho brand (sugar syrup with borax) did not work at our daughter's house - maybe immunity?. So we switched to HotShot bait trap and they were gone in 2 days.

prairieschooner · 08-19-2014, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by terryV

My mother used to leave a lid on the counter with a little pile of a sugar and borax mixture when ants invaded her Airstream. It didn't seem to matter what kind of ants they were, they would take it back to the nest for the whole gang to enjoy, and later they would wake up dead.

great advice! I have always used Salt sprinkled around the perimeter of the trailer or coach...making sure to pay attention to any cords or hoses. Next time Sugar and Borax as well! ( PS We all need to pay attention to the ways of the past!)

cwf · 08-19-2014, 09:02 PM

Yes... And if you bait OUTSIDE the trailer that is where they will go. You do need them OUT!!!

I am for the RAID bomb. And the sugar/borax outside. No sense bringing more inside.

MOTR · 03-22-2015, 02:22 PM

We've had that issue before and have found a mixture of vinegar, peppermint extract, and water works well. Plus, you can spray it even around food or dishes without risk

Rich W · 03-22-2015, 02:49 PM

I think our house was built on a massive ant colony, we've been battling them for the last 10 years. Terro ant poison, which contains boric acid / borax, has been pretty effective. Put it outside to draw them out. You can use diatomaceous earth on their travel paths / areas also.

There are a lot of articles on the Internet about getting rid of ants. I'm surrending and calling Orkin or Terminix in the morning.

idroba · 03-22-2015, 02:51 PM

The only time I had ants in any of my Airstreams (and I have had many) was when I had a water leak in the front under the Pano window. It wet the floor and the ants came up the tongue jack, built nests and had water and food from the flooring materials.

So, be absolutely sure you have no water leaks.

This reinforces Howie's suggestion, above.

AWCHIEF · 03-22-2015, 03:06 PM

I do not think any of the ant poisons really work. All it does annoy them and they come up somewhere else.

flygrrl · 03-22-2015, 04:43 PM

And I will tell you why...Terry's Mum almost had it.
Take 1 Tbsp Boric acid powder (available at any pharmacy) mix into 1/2 cup of boiling water and 1/2 cup sugar. Completely dissolve. Get a cottage cheese or margarine container and make ant sized holes (depending on the size of the ants you wish to eradicate) around container about 1 inch up from base. Place cosmetic puffs in bottom of container and pour sugar/boric acid mix over puffs until soaked. Tape lid on very well with duct tape. discard left over liquid down drain. Put container near ant trails and in about a week all ants will be stone dead, gone, shuffled off, ex-ants.
Make sure no pets can come into contact with mixture.
The ants love the sugar and cannot taste the boric acid poison. They feed it to the queen and larvae, they die and the rest of the colony dies too.
This also works great in your yard, just place the container under a large stone or something so any animals can't get at it.
You will probably have enough Boric acid for the next 20 years, but it is a cheap and very effective remedy. Cheaper than ant traps that don't work.
Leonie

badkat · 03-22-2015, 05:14 PM

Totally agree with Terro. They take the poison to the queen. It took 2 weeks but never returned. This will always be my go to.

Jim & Susan · 03-22-2015, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by badkat

Totally agree with Terro. They take the poison to the queen. It took 2 weeks but never returned. This will always be my go to.

Ditto, but only took about a week for us.

Jim

Chilicook · 05-11-2015, 03:19 PM

If I use a ant bomb/fogger in the camper will it set off the propane leak detector?

Bill M. · 05-11-2015, 03:24 PM

"You may have water somewhere in the walls or floor. Ants need it just like anything else."

This, in addition to everything else. Probably a a leak or some condensation. At least look carefully for a damp spot.

Pams72 · 05-12-2015, 03:19 PM

we use to get the small sugar ants every year, used the boric acid sugar water, no ants for the past three years, worked great for us. and we have a big bottle of boric acid should last many many years.

dznf0g · 07-25-2017, 07:57 AM

Well, many threads and post concerning ants here, but I have my first issue. While camping at the finger lakes I noticed a large amount of ant activity outside. 3 different types:

1) very large black ants which didn't seem interested in the AS or anything else.

2) common medium sized black ants

3) and very tiny blackish erratic ants, which I've come to learn are "crazy ants", due to their erratic and rapid movements.

I got infested with the two latter types. The common medium ones I have gotten rid of with the Terro feeding trays, which work well for the common medium black ants in the stick house.

BUT, the crazy ants seem to reject the baits. I have come to learn that they have a protein and a sweet cycle. I'll try the mixing of boric acid and peanut butter and the boric acid and honey concoction I see online. These little buggers are setting up nests INSIDE the electronics in my electrical center, which will become problematic if I can't eliminate them. They are attracted to the solar controller and the converter. (search, "why ants are attracted to electronics"). If not eliminated, they will short out electrical equipment. Saw them carrying eggs into the solar controller this morning! I'm at war!