Ants

[MrFoolish]

I've noticed ants have excavated a fair bit of sand in a line where the brickwork of my house meets the ground. Do I need to tackle them? They are not actually getting into the house.

Thanks.

[MrFoolish]

I think the sand must have come from beneath the patio flagstones. There's similar sand in a little pile on the patio a little distance from the house.

[Itsallaguess]

I've noticed ants have excavated a fair bit of sand in a line where the brickwork of my house meets the ground.

Do I need to tackle them?

I think I'd be looking to tackle them if they're that close to your house. Prevention often being easier than a cure, and all that, and re-laying flag-stones isn't a simple task if they're given a free run...

If you decide to, then I've had good results with the 'Ant Stop!' granules linked below -

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Home-Defence-Ant-Stop-Granules/dp/B003KNDEOS

The granules seem to be very effective, and the tub lasts for years, with just a few regular sprinklings around problem areas normally being enough to rid me of any ant issues on the odd occasions they've cropped up.

Cheers,

Itsallaguess

[MrFoolish]

I think I'd be looking to tackle them if they're that close to your house. Prevention often being easier than a cure, and all that, and re-laying flag-stones isn't a simple task if they're given a free run...

If you decide to, then I've had good results with the 'Ant Stop!' granules linked below -

Itsallaguess

Thanks, I might try that. I've got some white vinegar, which some people seem to recommend, so I might try this first.

[Hallucigenia]

If you know where the nest is my first line of defence against ants would always be boiling water - it works well and there's no danger of pesticide residues that may subsequently kill bees etc.

[MrFoolish]

FWIW, yesterday I used a 50:50 water/vinegar spray and no sign at all of ants today

[Stompa]

Well it was flying ant day here a couple of days ago. Presumably, since their job is done, they die off after that anyway?

[moorfield]

Well it was flying ant day here a couple of days ago. Presumably, since their job is done, they die off after that anyway?

Yes, was Thursday I think.

When I lived in Africa as a young child, I recall they could be scooped up off the ground by the handful and fried in oil. Quite a delicacy, perhaps that's why I'm a Celebrity has never freaked me out too much. (But I do not make a habit of eating the UK variants, just for clarity...)