Sugar Ants and the Texas Drought

[SPICoaster]

As the drought here in Texas continues, lake levels at the Corp of Engineers managed reservoirs have dropped considerable. A month ago we were on Lake Belton (Cedar Ridge) and the sugar ants were going nuts. A large group of Cub Scouts were camping near us and the first morning they were there they woke up to sugar ants crawling on and in everything they had. We're talking tent floors completely covered.

We checked last weekend at Live Oak park also on Lake Belton, and the camp host told us they have the same any problem there.

Needless to say, these little buggers love getting in RV's (finding the smallest opening they can) and thus everything that resembles food, water, etc. that you have in the RV!

Cheers

[Ray,IN]

Look at the glass half-full, at least they are not fire ants.

[Wayne M]

Let the faucet drip, or better yet place an open container of water outside, and put some honey on the ground. I've never tried it, but hey, why not.

[Luckiest Dre]

Several years ago when in California, getting ants in the camper was a common problem. Their solution was to sprinkle "Comet" around the tires and jacks as well as the electric cord and hose. I am not sure of the results but it sure was common to see throught out the area.

[Chickadee]

G'morning from Florida:

We've been real full timers since 05 and have certainly had to join the battle to keep ants out of the rig a number of places around the country.

Now,...alot of us have, over the years, come up with solutions to keep ants out that we believe is the best, but, as with a number of topics, this discussion sometimes turns into one of those childish forum arguments like......."mine is the best and ONLY way to do it"....., or,...."my rig is better than your rig", or,....."my dad can beat up you dad"...,etc., etc.

One of the BEST features of this iRV2 forum is that there are few, if any, posters who engage in this petulant child kind of nonsense. So,....if you'd like to hear some "anti-ant" techniques from folks on this forum,....just, ask for ideas, and you'll get a few!!

Steve & Lynette

[outthere]

We use indoor/outdoor insect spray from LOWES that is odorless, pet friendly and they say last 9 months. when we get to a cs i just spray around/ under the mh and NEVER have a problem! Will not stain either...

[RustyJC]

Another approach is to use a compound of sugar, water and borax/boric acid and mix into a paste to use as bait. The sugar draws 'em, and the borax/boric acid kills 'em. Specific recipes are available with an internet Google search on "borax ant killer".

Rusty

[TXiceman]

The boric acid and sugar paste works well. If you don't have any boric acid, you can simply put some sugar or syrup in an area on the ground adjacent to your camper and it will draw the ants that direction. You can use the same technique for flies. Use some food like a chewed chicken bone or a meat wrapper a few feed from your feast and they won't bother you as much.

Ken

[gfs1943]

I carry a can of Orthene Fire Ant Killer. It works on every kind of ant I've tried it on. If I see a lot of ants around a campsite, I'll sprinkle a little on the ground around the tires, plus on any nearby hills/mounds I see. Your experience may vary; I don't have much trouble with ants.