ANTSTORE World of Ants

[Umakaagi]

Since this is a community with lots of ant-experts I have a question I would like to post here.

What is the best way to stop ants crossing a border or a line?
I do not mean to stop them escaping a formicarium. It's just a general question. Say I want to stop ants from crawling onto my garden table. Do I use some sort of scent to repel them? Or use a tape around the tables legs so they can not climb the table? I do not want to hurt the ants so it has to be a ant-friendly solution.

[damondeionno]

There is no certain way to stop all ants. Also, the fact that you are talking about an outside scenario makes things difficult because of high humidity sometimes. Also, it depends on what sort of table you are talking about. Perhaps something like a ring of thick vaseline around the underside of the table where the legs meet would work for you. As I said, it depends on the table, and that may well be a risk to the clothes of people sitting at it.

Are ants really that much of a problem on you table?

[Pugberto]

If you're that concerned with them then destroy their nests. Their ants; nothing can truly stop them. Well a wall fire can...

[highered]

Right, basically oil like sunflower oil or I would guess even something like engine oil smeared for around the legs. This causes the ants to lose grip and fall off. As far as I'm aware this should work with all species of ants, as long as they can't reach over the barrier, eg if they are 2cm long don't put 1cm of oil down. In this case put at least 4cm down. Also yes things like humidity and weathering will be a problem so check it and reapply about twice a week.
The only other thing that I can think of which should stop only some species is a wall of ash.

[JimmyVe]

Pugberto he said he don't want to hurt the ants. So destroing there nest is not an option.

I would try the oil, that will work.

[Pugberto]

Pugberto he said he don't want to hurt the ants. So destroing there nest is not an option.

I would try the oil, that will work.

The issue is that oil always needs replenishing which can be costly in the long run. Although he didn't want to destroy them, it was still a suggestion. I mean we are unaware of what species they are, if they're a tough one then he has an issue containing them. They can deal with most surfaces and manufacturer ways around obstructions in little time.

As much as I love ants I still know the line between beauty and pest. As an ant farmer it is something I have to accept, as much as I don't want to of course.

[highered]

That is true actually, ants can build a bridge of dirt over an obscrution, though I doubt they'd do it to get to a table when there is plenty of other exploring and food etc elsewhere.

[Stilton]

Put each leg of the table in a bowl of water. This is how the British protected their furniture in India. It's easy, cheap and effective provided the water is topped up and the bowls are large enough. The occasional floater may get across but not enough to be a nuisance.

[Ant head]

I put cooking oil round the rim of my formicarium its quite funny to watch them run away when they get near it, i love my ant's lol.

[Milos]

I put cooking oil round the rim of my formicarium its quite funny to watch them run away when they get near it, i love my ant's lol.

But you will have to reapply oil every week or so?

[insanebe]

use caster cups on all your table legs, and fill these cups with water/oil or something else of your choosing.