I have quite a few Walmart light switches installed in my workshop. They seem to be magnets for "sugar ants", who martyr themselves in the switch contacts by the thousands. That ruins the switch of course. The problem is such that I sometimes have to replace switches daily. Does anyone have a (cheap) suggestion ?
Ants in light switches
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Russell King
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Are you sure that they aren’t fire ants or Crazy Raspberry ants?
There is a insecticide called Demon that you can use on the perimeter of the building that is fairly effective for ALL insects. I guess you could turn off the power and spray around the switches and then let that dry out for a day or two before turning power back on.
Boric acid may keep them away from the switches if you spray the powder into the switch outlet box but I have never tried it.
If fire ants then use Amdro bait ( not the insecticide) and it will help get rid of them.
There is a insecticide called Demon that you can use on the perimeter of the building that is fairly effective for ALL insects. I guess you could turn off the power and spray around the switches and then let that dry out for a day or two before turning power back on.
Boric acid may keep them away from the switches if you spray the powder into the switch outlet box but I have never tried it.
If fire ants then use Amdro bait ( not the insecticide) and it will help get rid of them.
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IIWM, I’d be replacing the switches from Walmart with some other brand. Who knows what they are made out of. Maybe some mugugaipan.
NCL4701
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Good advice from Russell King. He’s right that boric acid works well IF you can figure out where they’re entrance trails are and put it on their trails so they cross it before getting in the switches. Some in the switch boxes wouldn’t hurt, either.
Also, when we start having ants get in our house semi-routinely, the most effective cure I’ve found is spend some time following them and locate their nest. Then take out the whole nest. Once the nest has an established road to somewhere, they seem to just keep coming.
Also, when we start having ants get in our house semi-routinely, the most effective cure I’ve found is spend some time following them and locate their nest. Then take out the whole nest. Once the nest has an established road to somewhere, they seem to just keep coming.
I dont have that problem with switches but with battery packs for my one battery drill. I was told to spray it inside and out with WD40 I thought it was nuts to but I did and haven had a problem with them since
Yep….WD40….which also is good for the switches.
For killing ant nests I’ve found something I prefer to Amdro at TSC: http://'https//www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/bayer-advanced-fire-ant-killer-dust-16-fl-oz-1073929?cm_mmc=feed-_-GoogleShopping-_-Product-_-1073929&gclid=CjwKCAiAtdGNBhAmEiwAWxGcUmWT3_PhLjaxqCSctdwe9YCafnExujPjpWUoV-HBdf0b36vgCQcsbhoC5EAQAvD_BwE#
Amdro is a BAIT that kills the colony by killing the queen when they bring it to her. Bio-Advance Ant Killer kills ALL of them by contact…without being harmful to vertebrates. (B-cyflorin also kills termites, etc.) Works within a couple hours to kill the entire nest. I’ve even drilled a 1/4” hole in the cap, inserted poly-tubing, and by squeezing the bottle injected the powder into walls where carpenter ants had nested. Poof! Gone! (and saved an expensive exterminator-call)
For killing ant nests I’ve found something I prefer to Amdro at TSC: http://'https//www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/bayer-advanced-fire-ant-killer-dust-16-fl-oz-1073929?cm_mmc=feed-_-GoogleShopping-_-Product-_-1073929&gclid=CjwKCAiAtdGNBhAmEiwAWxGcUmWT3_PhLjaxqCSctdwe9YCafnExujPjpWUoV-HBdf0b36vgCQcsbhoC5EAQAvD_BwE#
Amdro is a BAIT that kills the colony by killing the queen when they bring it to her. Bio-Advance Ant Killer kills ALL of them by contact…without being harmful to vertebrates. (B-cyflorin also kills termites, etc.) Works within a couple hours to kill the entire nest. I’ve even drilled a 1/4” hole in the cap, inserted poly-tubing, and by squeezing the bottle injected the powder into walls where carpenter ants had nested. Poof! Gone! (and saved an expensive exterminator-call)
