A low-problem way I've heard to deal with ants uses boric acid cockroach powder. Mix it in tiny bottle caps with either sugar water or cooking oil. Use both substances. Some ants prefer oil and some prefer sugar. Friends use plastic caps from milk containers. Set the bottle caps where household animals cannot get to them. The ants will carry it back to their colony.

That method also works extremely well with cockroaches. Yeah, I live in Georgia.

I have a question for Leaf mite. How do you keep the bugs around? My collection is on a island that separates my kitchen from my living room, and I have others on various window sills. Using these bugs sounds like a good method, but I'd think they'd just fly off somewhere in the house...?

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Has anyone used that ant poison called "Torro'? It's a clear liquid that is applied in drops in random places. The ants are attracted to it, and carry it back to their colony. I too have an ant problem, not around where my orchids are, but close enough. I have been applying this Torro on and off for a few weeks. In reading these posts about scale, I wonder would it be beneficial for me to use it around the orchids...? I admit I am most likely paranoid about pests and diseases, but wouldn't something like this be a 'pro-active' move?

I don't know about pro active but, it works for ants.

Yes. My thinking is that if scale can ride in on ants, my chances of getting scale are lessened.??

[QUOTE=greenpassion;846223]I have a question for Leaf mite. How do you keep the bugs around? My collection is on a island that separates my kitchen from my living room, and I have others on various window sills. Using these bugs sounds like a good method, but I'd think they'd just fly off somewhere in the house...?[COLOR="Silver"]

I first put the plants outside and then release the helpful bugs. I would never try this indoors. :)

Has anyone used that ant poison called "Torro'?

I'm assuming you meant "Terro", yes, I have. They have worked great for me in the past. Only "creepy" thing is, initially, it attracts even more ants in (more to take poison back to colony). Every time I've used them, the ants were gone within 48 hrs.

oops! That was probably a stupid question thinking I could release the bugs in the house! Duh!!