On 23-6-2016 14:29, Bald Eagle wrote:
> Interesting idea about oranges as a fungicide.
> I wonder if the now-nearly-ubiquitous citrus cleaners have the same effect or
> are missing some key naturally occurring component.
>
> The corn starch idea is interesting as well - I'd never heard of that.
>
> I think the key though, as mentioned in the Sci Fi story, is to target the
> queen.  Else all you're doing is racking up a body count of drones without
> addressing the root of the problem.
>
> Boric acid has been effective if employed properly.  Mix it well with sugar or
> flour, or both, and then moisten it.   The boric acid will then become chelated
> by any vicinal diols (adjacent hydroxyls) in the chemical structure, and be
> ingested along with the bait feed.  Supposedly this gets brought back to the
> nest and fed to the queen, etc.
>
> Ants make their trails to follow with formic acid.  Perhaps laying a false trail
> using natural formic acid - from ants or nettles or something - would lead them
> elsewhere (maybe to your bait).  You might also spray something alkaline, and
> that might ruin the trails. (baking soda, TSP, etc.)
>
> My grandparents used "whitewash" {assuming it some kind of lime} painted onto
> the base of their trees - presumably to keep the bugs off of them.
>
> YMMV
> Best of luck battling the Empire of the Ants
>

It is getting the queen that is most desirable but also most difficult 
indeed. Oh well, it keeps me off the streets to battle ants nestling 
between the stones of my terrace (where they do the most harm, 
unsettling the stones) or infesting my tomato plants, otherwise I am one 
to let them live their little lives.

I do remember seeing whitewash on tree bases indeed. I don't know how 
effective that might be. It may be something like the blue paint around 
windows in Mediterranean countries to keep flies from coming in.

I definitely have to make an image now :-)

-- 
Thomas

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