ANTS IN HOUSES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 29 October 1925, Page 4

ANTS IN HOUSES

HOW TO (ALT HU) OK 'I 11 KM In reply to a letter from a local resident. it tile ant pest in houses. Dr. l ill - vartl offered the following informal ion, which has been forwarded oil He us lot pilblical ton : (1) The ant which is a pest in certain parts of Nelson is an introduced species, I’renolepis longit tii nis. lls halnls are exactly similar lo those of other well known small aids which are pests in and about houses in various parls of tin world.

(2) Undoubtedly the best remedy fui the pest is to locate I lie nest and to destroy it. This can he done in one ot three wavs:---

(a) If tile nest can be easily go! at. destroy il by treatment with he.iling water from a kettle.

(h) If the nest is located in such a way tied the treatment by boiling water cannot be applied, then ii should lie attacked either with carbon bisulphide, which can be squirted into it or poured into il through a suitable hole or crack, or (e) It should be dusted with sodium I'ouride ; this can lie blown in through a hole or crack by means of a small puffer such as is used in attacking flies with pyrethrum powder. N.B.—Carbon bisulphide is an evilsmelling liquid and very inflammable; do not use it close to a naked light.

(3) If the nest cannot be discovered, then the next best method of attack is to supply the ants with some poisonous substance which they will carry to their home The best of these are:—

(a) Borax and sugar. Hither boil the two together and place the mixture out in saucers, nr make a strong solution of the two and place it out on old pieces ef sponge. In tip, former ease the ants will carry particles to the nest : in the latter, they will (lock to the sponges and many will get trapped in them.

(I'd Sugar and sodium arsenate. .Mala a syrup hv the following formula :

■Sugar llh, sodium arsenate 125 grains, water ] (mart : boil and strain. Use as a bait in saucers, or soaked into pieces of sponge. This ’ very poisonous. Keep animals and chiliben awav from it.