permaculture

[KNat <knat@sprintmail.com>]

Jody Troupe wrote:
> The boric acid usually has to be mixed with something they would want to eat, 
> not just straight. Ghost ants are picky eaters (or so I read) and for the 
> most part they seemed to avoid anything that was tainted. Smart little guys I 
> guess.
>
> J. Troupe
Most ants are finicky (sometimes it seems they split the kitchen 
resources so sweet ants can nest in one end, grease ants in the other 
and mingle freely.) Anyway, it is always worth a bit of observation 
before spreading poisons to make sure you know your intended audience. 
We use bottle caps with favorite foods to ID which will be effective 
then add boric acid to the appropriate one. Samples are: grease, sugar, 
honey (honey and and sugar ants not the same), meat. Takes very 
small/short application (and allows dialog for understanding first.) 
Though one large nest out West we wound up using a dead bird as bait so 
your big nest may be larger scale for application.

Anyone have methods with carpenter bees? My honey bees cleared the front 
but back seriously overrun.

Peace,
Kathyann