I’ve mentioned this to a very few people so far, but I’m tired of hiding in the shadows with the issue. I’ve had a problem with ants in the rafters of my atrium for a few years now and it is time to tackle the issue. The sawdust is falling down and my roof will at some point if I don’t take decisive action. Investigation has kicked into high gear and I’ve learned that ants don’t usually live in your house, they have nests outside and come in to eat, in this case, my rafters! The woodpeckers have heard them and have pecked the house like crazy trying to get at them.
I have discovered that I am to blame for them setting up house outside. I planted a raised peony bed about ten feet away from the house. I think that’s where they started. Then I had a big tree trimmed a few years ago and have left the cut sections laying there. They are under and in them, under the bark.
Because of a mugwort infestation in the peony bed, I put a tarp over it last fall, hoping to kill the mugwort and maybe keep the peonies. I took the tarp off this weekend and everything is dead under there — except the ants. Tearing the cardboard light wood away oh yeah they are in there. I have been working at it a little each day. The dead plant matter goes directly to the dumpster, as I can’t compost it and have some of it sprout again. The bricks lining the edges and holding the landscape fabric in place have been taken out and put on the back patio. The wood is put in a 5 gallon pail and carted to the garbage dumpster.
One blessing is that at least some of the peony are still alive! Their roots are strong and I’m pulling them out as I go. They will either winter over as dry roots or I’ll find a place to plant them this fall. Either way, they will bloom again. Thank you, Goddess!
I will do updates periodically. Wish me luck everyone.
Tao Talk 
Good luck! I see Terro traps. They work really well!
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Thanks, Melissa. Yes, they do, but these little ones aren’t enough for the job. I have some outdoor stations ordered and should be here by 10/1. Once I tear the top matter off and the peony roots out, it’s going to be open season on those little…. pests. I may yet save my roof.
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I hope you do! Positive intention coming your way.❤️🙏🏼
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<3
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Lisa, have you contacted an exterminator? We had bees that ate right through our ceiling wall boards one time. I know you don’t like to think along those lines, but it might be necessary to save the house. 🧡
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Colleen, I’ve called multiple exterminators. The local mom and pop ones want nothing to do with climbing up on the roof. The others that have been absorbed by corporations with offices out of Michigan want hundreds of dollars before someone will even come out to the house. It’s very discouraging. My son said he’d come out and climb the ladder and put the bait traps up there, but the real problem in clearing out those 2 nests out back. I didn’t know bees could eat through wood?!
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Right? Insects can do a lot of damage. I’m sorry Lisa. I had ants on the side of the house and planted lavender there. The ants left. I have young peonies out front but not many ants. Here are some other ideas: https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-kill-ants#natural-ways-to-eliminate-ants
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Excellent article, Colleen. I knew about half of them but the other half are new info. I don’t think the peonies are to blame for the ant infestation, but the planter, it’s soft soil, and tasty wood, with the warm bricks, made it a perfect habitat for them to tunnel under. Thank you for your help with the link. Much appreciated. P.S. The Tero bait traps on the way are borax ones.
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I’ve had ants in many places I lived, starting in childhood–we used to find them in the (sugary) cereal when we poured it into our bowls. But I did not know they were so destructive as well as annoying. Good luck! Insects will conquer the world…
But your garden look lovely. (K)
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They don’t go near the food much, but if one is seen, immediately the tero is set out and they are gone again. They are up in the roof/rafters where a leak in the skylight made the wood wet :( Thanks for the well-wishing, Kerfe. I have let it go for too long and now the battle is on.
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feeling your pain!!! good luck💕
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So sorry to hear that Cindy. They are tiny hungry titans :( Good luck back to you <3
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they sure are.. I’m good now but memories live on.. xo
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<3
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Oh I hope that it all works and you get rid of the infestation. 😍
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Thank you, Sadje. I hope so also!
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You’re welcome
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The joys of owning a home – I’m sorry, Lisa. Keeping fingers crossed you can find an effective solution to get rid of these critters!
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I want them gone before winter so I don’t have to deal with them in spring. We’ll see!
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Keeping fingers crossed!
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The only thing that worked with us is Boric acid and that was around our sink. I wish you the best…
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Thank you, Max. Boric acid is on that list that Colleen sent, and I also bought several boxes of Borax that I plan on dumping into the holes once I get the debris out of the way.
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They are a pain to get away I know…we had to treat it 3 different times.
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White vinegar repels ants. They come into houses here when it is very dry. If you can see where they are coming in wipe white vinegar along their trail. Also wipe it over surfaces where they swarm around, It smells for a few days but it stops them getting in. Maybe you could try wiping the vinegar around the infested rafters. You can buy cheap cleaning vinegar in the supermarkets here. Maybe it’s available where you live too. Good luck. They can be nuisance.
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Thanks much for the tips, Suzanne. I have a gallon of vinegar :)
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Ok
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Hey Li :-) did you manage to get rid of your ant problem? I hope so, ants are nasty! I’ve never heard of them living in the rafters of a house, that was new info for me!
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I think I’m keeping them at bay. That and the poison ivy. Borax is poison to both of them.
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