Ants
 

I've noticed an abundance of ants both on my deck and in a few rooms of my house (kitchen and den off of the kitchen). Not crazy #s but enough for me to be concerned.

I called Orkin and they told me it would be $375 for the initial visit, evaluation and application, as well as $90 every other month for the follow-ups and re-application, if necessary. I obviously could cancel prior to the check-ups but the $90 every other month seems reasonable. The $375 first visit seems excessive. All total this will come to $900 for the year.

I definitely want to get something done, as the ant traps we've put out haven't seemed to do anything.

Also, the Orkin guy asked me what size they were (more or less than 1/4 of an inch). I said I've seen both and he said the larger are carpenter ants, which can destroy wood.

So, any suggestions? If I gotta pay the $375 then fine but I hate the feeling of someone giving me a price and not having any idea if it is reasonable. I picture some guy walking around my house spraying some [censored], leaving about 15 minutes later and I just don't get how that should cost $375.

And it is not a case of the house being dirty - I'd say we keep it at least as clean as most.


Thanks for any ideas.

Re: Ants
 

I'd move.

Re: Ants
 

There's this poison that comes in these little granules that ants take down into their holes. I forget what it's called, but it works great. Home Depot has it.

Re: Ants
 

http://www.jhepple.com/Pictures/Animals/Ant_Eater.JPG

Re: Ants
 

Brilliant!

Re: Ants
 

Bah. This guy's much funnier.

http://dfe.goldenagecartoons.com/ima...-aardvark3.jpg

Re: Ants
 

http://www.pestcontrolcanada.com/get...enter_ants.htm
http://www.thefrugallife.com/ants.html

google = friend

Re: Ants
 

Don't spend $400 to kill ants. These work amazing.

http://img284.echo.cx/img284/7940/untitled5ce.png

Re: Ants
 

We had an infestation of ants crawling across the walls of our shower when I was in college. We just taped a few of those bad boys to the wall right in the middle of their path, and the little buggers were gone in a few days time. Those things work great.

Re: Ants
 

Scrubette's apartment started to get ants this fall. I put a bunch of traps called something like "Grant's Kills Ants" in the apartment--the ants were gone in about a week.

I wouldn't bother paying an exterminator that much money until you've established that $5 worth of traps won't work just as well.

scrub