ANTS. Fire ants to be exact

[AFWife]

We've had problems since we moved in 6 months ago. When we first got here I asked the apt people to spray...yeah, the guy came in and did a half-@$$ed spray in the bathroom (the only place we had them at first) They came back...and they've been moving around the apt ever since. I've had them in the sink (got rid of them), in my pantry (got rid of them), the bathroom (neverending fight there), and the laundry room (recently started that fight). I've been using this flea spray I bought when I was living with my ILs and it works quite well.

DH isn't really "bothered" because, apparently, they're part of living in South Texas...he's lived in this area most of his life so he's used to it. I, on the other hand, HATE the little things and wish them the death of a thousand suns. My DS is recently mobile and into everything. I hate the thought that he's going to unknowingly crawl into a pile of them and get attacked. I've already found one bite on him in the past month or so (and felt my blood pressure rise when I did).

There was a "mound" out by our entryway several months ago and I guess they sprayed or something and got rid of it...which leads DH to suspect that the real home (the big underground part) is right under our building.

Since moving isn't an option (and I wish it was) HELP! I don't want to just "keep them out." I'd like to kill them if possible. Vinegar doesn't work (they find new ways around it) Right now the only thing keeping them at bay is the horrible flea spray I have...and I hate using it because it smells horrible and I have to clean the area so DS doesn't crawl into it.

DH doesn't want to use the ant bait trap things because he's never heard of them actually working and doesn't want to waste money. At this point, I'll try just about anything.

[dagny.galt]

Edit: should have checked my facts first. Sorry.

[mattemma04]

I would go with the baiting where you see activity.Do not spray or dust in those areas or the bait will not work.Make sure you get a bait for your type of ant.They will eat it and take it back to the nest and feed the poison to the others...the many you can not get at.

http://www.pestproducts.com/fireant2.htm

[SunshineJ]

I'd keep calling and having them come out and treat them until the problem was taken care of personally. I know when I lived in FL they were an issue to the point where some places would actually put straws of ant killer in the walls. I remember I was of the live and let live, one or two isn't so bad philosophy until I was bitten by one while I was sitting on the toilet. Irrational as it was I then declared they were taking unfair advantage and had people come out to spray for them One thing that may help, as I know it does with most insects is to place bay leaves around the doors, etc. Bay leaves repel insects, and if your child picks one up and chews on it, I can't find any real health concerns from anything but large quantities of it. Good luck - they're awful!

[zoebird]

inside the house, use Dr Bronner's Peppermint Castile soap. it works with all manner of critters. if you wash your area with that (and their entry point), the peppermint burns their feet and they tend to avoid those places.

that will manage the indoors a bit anyway.

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by SunshineJ

I'd keep calling and having them come out and treat them until the problem was taken care of personally. I know when I lived in FL they were an issue to the point where some places would actually put straws of ant killer in the walls. I remember I was of the live and let live, one or two isn't so bad philosophy until I was bitten by one while I was sitting on the toilet. Irrational as it was I then declared they were taking unfair advantage and had people come out to spray for them One thing that may help, as I know it does with most insects is to place bay leaves around the doors, etc. Bay leaves repel insects, and if your child picks one up and chews on it, I can't find any real health concerns from anything but large quantities of it. Good luck - they're awful!

I'd have to get a handle on my housework first. That's the only thing stopping me from calling today. I don't want them to come over, see the laundry piled up or whatever, and say "that's why you have ants" and not listen YKWIM?
And I've also been bitten on the butt while peeing...not fun