Ants !!

[steveb285rks]

I have carpenter ants that fall from the tree I have to park under. For the most part they stay outside but up until a few weeks ago I had a 10" x 6" hole in the floor where the fresh water plumbing passed through. It was a perfect access for mice and ants. I also had the little ants crawl up the rear landing gear (at a campground in PA) to come in through that huge hole in the floor.
This summer's project is to remove the aluminum siding from the rear wall to fix known rotted wood. Hoping to not find a nest of carpenter ants but it will not be a surprise.
Terro spray and traps seem to work very well.

[RogerR]

I never thought anything about the big black carpenter ants I saw outside my home. Until I discovered the frame on one of my windows was soft. Ended up spending a lot of money to replace the complete window as the nest had ruined the frame. Water had gotten in one crack and away they went eating it up.

Inspect that camper everywhere for a tiny leak and watch them. If you see one go into a wall or crevice you need to find the leak and kill them. If in time you may not need repairs. Wait to long and it will cost a lot more.
If you are uncertain capture a couple in a bottle and take them to a bug specialist.

[FPM III]

For powder, I use boric acid you buy at a pharmacy. There's no prescription needed, but you have to ask the pharmacist for it.

I often mix an ant cocktail. Use an empty individual serving coffee creamer from a restaurant and fill it about 2/3 - 3/4 full with some warm water. Then mix sugar and a small amount of boric acid. stir until the mixture is still liquidy, like the consistency of syrup you'd use on a sno-cone. Once you add the sugar/boric acid, the liquid level should rise until it's at or near the rim of the container. Now, take a Kleenex, or similar product and slowly insert it into the liquid allowing the Kleenex to absorb it until it's completely wet. Place the completed ant cocktail in the path of the ants for them to feast on.

Note that this and many other commercial ant treatments (except for the aerosol sprays) do not show immediate results. They work more like Coronavirus. The ants touch (power) and ingest it when they clean themselves or eat it as bait. Then they pass it along to others via social feeding. It's usually a few days before you start seeing results.

[gypsmjim]

Originally Posted by us71na

Before trying anything you should figure out what type of ant you are dealing with.

I'm not knowledgeable on ants, but an internet search of pictures makes me believe they are odorous household ants, or they could be carpenters.

There is a new this year ant hill on the side of our fire pit about 50' away from the trailer. We dug that up but didn't have anything to treat it. We do have stuff now and will be back in 2 weeks to finish the job.

In the mean time I had some foam rubber and I stuffed pieces into the only 2 spots that I thought could be entry points.

Thanks for all the comments...

[campingva]

I go to Southern States and get a product called "Eight". Mix it 5 parts water to 1 part Eight and spray down the outside of my camper. I have never had an insect problem inside my camper. I also spray down all my pants and have never had a tick problem while camping or hunting. It will last through several washings or rainstorms. It contains Permethian.

[us71na]

Originally Posted by FPM III

For powder, I use boric acid you buy at a pharmacy. There's no prescription needed, but you have to ask the pharmacist for it.

I often mix an ant cocktail. Use an empty individual serving coffee creamer from a restaurant and fill it about 2/3 - 3/4 full with some warm water. Then mix sugar and a small amount of boric acid. stir until the mixture is still liquidy, like the consistency of syrup you'd use on a sno-cone. Once you add the sugar/boric acid, the liquid level should rise until it's at or near the rim of the container. Now, take a Kleenex, or similar product and slowly insert it into the liquid allowing the Kleenex to absorb it until it's completely wet. Place the completed ant cocktail in the path of the ants for them to feast on.

Note that this and many other commercial ant treatments (except for the aerosol sprays) do not show immediate results. They work more like Coronavirus. The ants touch (power) and ingest it when they clean themselves or eat it as bait. Then they pass it along to others via social feeding. It's usually a few days before you start seeing results.

Basically that is what Terro liquid is....

[RogerR]

I forgot to mention to professional grade products. FiCam and FiPro which are a powder and a foam that is developed with carpenter ants in mind. It is a non-repellant bait and killer that you can spray or dust into crevices for the carpenter ants to eat and take home to the nest and die.
But most important is to find the damp wood they are living in before it rots and/or falls apart.

[db7512]

Try duct tape around power cord and water hose, sticky side up.

[rbsheba]

Originally Posted by gypsmjim

That sounds like what my plan was. What "powder" should I buy?

Sevin

[Dopalgangr]

I swear by this:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/AMDRO-24...2802/100598633 They eat this up and take it back to the colony for mass kill.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ortho-Ho...-300569500-_-N I spray everything that touches the ground with this as well.

[thenne1713]

Originally Posted by gypsmjim

And I don't mean Uncle's wives.

I always laugh at mouse threads because I always mouse-proof and haven't had them in 34 years of owning an RV trailer. But this year is different - we have ants.

Jayco 195RB - 2015 model.

The wife saw a few inside so it required a little investigating. I saw a few on the outside of the trailer and one on the roof.

I only see 2 possible points of entry - a small crevice on the bottom of the door / screen frame, and a possible opening on the roof vent above the side mounted AC.

All the exterior vents - HW heater, fridge vent, furnace - were screened from day one. They can't get in there.

Any comments, suggestions? TIA.

Ants/ insects and rodents can come from overhead trees or ground, but after ants and mice (chipmunks?/ squirrels/ acorns), I found a large gap around 3-sides of shoreline storage box, sealed inside box w/ aluminum flashing bent to 90-deg and adherred w/ LEXEL; also installed electronic repellant and an... success so far
t baits and BORIC ACID ant/ roach powder.

[DGW]

Here are a few things I do.

1. Once a year I soak the treated lumber I put under my landing gear in a Permethrin/water mixture. Soak for about 24 hrs, then let dry. Crazy but it works.
2. I tie a rag around the water hose and coax just before they go into the docking station and then spray with Raid Max Barrier. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074G4VSV3/ref=dp_cerb_1
3. Power cable, same as number two.
4. I also keep dry poison to spread around the tires and landing gear as necessary.
5. Sewer hoses - see below.

6. Last but not least - Dawn dish detergent will kill ants. I keep this handy as well. Depending on who we are camping with (ie little kids) I'll substitute Dawn for poison.



Woke up one morning to ants everywhere and found they were coming in through the docking station - I think they were attracted to the little bit of water drips. Regardless, only had to happen once and I go over the top now. But no ants, or anything else.

[garywilson]

Sometimes it depends on what ant it is.

One place I camp has Argentine ants, and most of the ant/pest insecticides did not include Argentine. Like Fire Ants, some will just not work.

I've only found a few poisons that include Argentine. When at that camping area I use 'Amdro Ant Block'. I scatter it around all tires, stabilizers, tongue jack. Then I put some vaseline on several inches of my power cord to stick the Amdro to.

Also, don't lean anything against the trailer wall...they will crawl up that, too!

I had an and colony start in my trailer a few years ago. I'm not sure what kind, but they stunk. Sprayed liberally and they ceased to exist.

I don't want that again!

[gypsmjim]

Originally Posted by db7512

Try duct tape around power cord and water hose, sticky side up.

Read the whole thread. This was discussed before.

No power cord and no water hose.

No need for duck tape, or duct tape as you prefer.

[Bugman]

JOB ONE is ID your enemy! Some products work on some ants and not on others. Diatamacous Earth, and Borate (Boric Acid) are both natural and safe for humans and pets. In my experience, Borates are more effective. Usually find it packaged as Roach Powder. Use VERY small amounts in cracks & crevices inside. If you can see it, it's too much.

Outside, Home Defense spray is too weak. The active ingredient, Bifenthrin, is a good all-around product that works an a huge list of bugs. Look for a product called Talstar. It has the strength the pro's use. ALWAYS mix according to the label!!! ALWAYS! Carpenter ants- you gotta find "Home." Could be as far as 100 yards away. Old tree stumps, fallen logs, trees with knotholes, etc. Bang on them with a hammer. They'll come bailing out like an eruption. Once found, soak them with Talstar. Be sure to trim bushes and limbs away from, and over, your RV. A little Talstar sprayed around all contacts with the ground will work. Happy Hunting!

[gypsmjim]

Originally Posted by Bugman

JOB ONE is ID your enemy! Diatamacous Earth, and Borate (Boric Acid) are both natural and safe for humans and pets. In my experience, Borates are more effective. Usually find it packaged as Roach Powder. Use VERY small amounts in cracks & crevices inside.

Outside, Home Defense spray is too weak. The active ingredient, Bifenthrin, is a good all-around product that works an a huge list of bugs. Look for a product called Talstar. It has the strength the pro's use. ALWAYS mix according to the label!!! ALWAYS! Carpenter ants_ you gotta find "Home." Could be as far as 100 yards away. Old tree stumps, fallen logs, trees with knotholes, etc. Bang on them with a hammer. They'll come out like an explosion. Once found, soak them with Talstar.

See previous response. I think we found it.

We have the stuff and will treat it Sunday, weather permitting.

Thanks again to all.

[Tireman9]

Originally Posted by us71na

If you find "Big Old Black Ants", they are most likely carpenter ants and they live in wet wood so you likely have a leak and a rot problem. They will create tunnels destroying the structure. Most ant baits won't work on them. You have to eliminate the wet wood. Carpenter ants spread by generating a lot of queens which leave the nest and fly to surrounding areas, so they don't need touch the ground to get on your RV.

Before trying anything you should figure out what type of ant you are dealing with.

^^ Yes Carpenter ants do not go for the food ant poison(sweets).


I had an infestation a number of years ago and tried a lot of stuff. Finally learned that Borax powder was the solution. It's not fast but it does work. Workers get on legs and take back to nest and it kills the queen.

[Love vin]

I've had sugar ants and I took the position that they were showing me where I needed to clean. Keeping clean and moving eliminated the problem.

[Ed H]

I second Diatomaceous Earth. It's the best and 100% environment friendly... just dust around tires, jacks, shore power, sewer tube - essentially any point that touches the ground. Sure, it's a minor p.i.t.a. ritual, but it works very well.

[Astronuts]

Originally Posted by Midnightmoon

I get them from the power cord believe it or not. I still have my factory cable setup on mine and they climb right up and in through the plastic door. This time of year, I just give the cord and the ground around a shot or two of bug spray. Eventually, I'm going to add a cord disconnect to eliminate that point of entry.

I have a Jayco 145RB and had ants come up the power cord. I stuffed fine steel wool in the power port. No more ants inside.