Ant Killer? - Orchid Board

Ray · #1 09-06-2006, 05:38 AM

Those of you who have been around a long time know of my interest in finding home-based remedies for dealing with plant ailments, and have probably referred to my "Home Remedies" page - it DOES get a lot of hits.

Someone suggested asapartame - Nutrasweet - as an ant killer. Supposedly, once moistened, ants will take it back to the colony and it's "bye-bye" in no time. It's supposedly also effective on fire andts, and it's no easy task to get rid of them.

Anyone with first-hand knowledge, one way or another?

Tindomul · #2 09-06-2006, 10:01 AM

Nutrasweet! Don't we eat that? Anyone know why it kills them?
Who would have thought that sugar would do ants in.

Oscarman · #3 09-06-2006, 07:34 PM

That's great!

I can see the headlines now......"Artificial Sweetener Consumed by Over 200 Million People Devastates World Insect Populations".........but trust us....it IS safe!

Ray · #4 09-06-2006, 08:28 PM

It's ANYTHING but sugar!

In about 1 in 10,000, it acts as a neurotransmitter mimic, and can REALLY mess up one's nervous system (that's what happened to me).

After only about 2 or 3 weeks of one packet in a single cup of coffee in the morning, I became so allergic I couldn't eat ANY sweeteners - natural or otherwise - fruit, or fruit juice, and worst of all, IT TOOK BEER WITH IT!!!!!!!

After about three years of total abstinence (fortunately, hard liquor was OK) and a daily regimen of Allegra, I was able to resume my old eating and drinking habits, but even now - ten years later - if I overdo sweets, wine (that naturally contains histamines) or beer, I get a reaction that involves high blood pressure (the first time it was 140/120) and irregular heartbeat.

Let it kill the ants.

Phantasm · #5 09-06-2006, 09:28 PM

I used to drink pop that had Aspartame in it, and noticed that it made me light headed, dizzy and not feeling quite right. Don't do that anymore, and the symptoms disappeared. That is some nasty stuff, and there are a lot of people using it that have no clue.

Oscarman · #6 09-06-2006, 09:46 PM

Always have avoided it. Please keep food natural and real.

They say that it is a great product to reduce weight. With 200 million people consuming it, it is funny that there is an national obesity problem!

Marty · #7 09-07-2006, 08:18 AM

You can use borax (aka sodium borate) and mix it with sugar. I believe borax i naturally occurring after lakes dry out or something like that. it's used in a lot of commercial ant killers. Ants take it 'home' feed their offspring and croak! It's also used as a detergent. Borax is supposed to be safe - just like aspartame

cb977 · #8 09-07-2006, 09:42 AM

To get rid of "fire ants", put some Instant Grits in their home. Just a teaspoon usually does it. The ants eat it, then it expands and POP! All gone!!!

littlefrog · #9 09-07-2006, 10:10 AM

I use borax, myself. 20 Mule Team brand, it is in with the laundry detergent at the grocery store. Mixed with a bit of sugar to enhance the taste (and to annoy my spouse when it gets wet). Also makes an excellent wood preservative, I hear.

Never heard the aspartame thing, but I'm not surprised. I drink a liter or two of diet pop (Mountain Dew - the programmer's friend, or diet coke) a day, so far it hasn't killed me. Probably hasn't helped me. I'd weigh 3000 pounds if I drank the regular leaded variety of soda.

justatypn · #10 09-08-2006, 10:26 PM

Marty gets my vote, borax has been used in my previous residence, where after re-roofing our home which mind you came with ants free of charge and they decided to take residence. They had to go so I had a great meal set up of borax with sugar. When they were found in the roof venting backed with insulation hubby made up some sort of canister, hooked up the air compressor and shot it into the nested area. May they rest in peace, bloated.