Weird ant problem in my house, anyone know what's going on?
#1
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Weird ant problem in my house, anyone know what's going on?
From time to time we get a bunch of ants running around in our house. Our usual solution is to use some Raid ant killer, basically little drops that once hardened, attracts ants who bring it back to their colony and everyone (including the queen) eats it and dies. So far it's worked great, until now. A few days ago, we noticed ants, put some drops in the places they seemed to be most often seen, and that's when weird shit started to happen. The next morning my wife went downstairs and in one concentrated area at the bottom of the stairs and close to the bathroom (where we put a lot of the drops) there were tons of ant parts all over the place. Not whole dead ants but rather separate heads, thorax and abdomens. She cleaned it all up, but a couple hours later I went downstairs and they were all over the place again! And this keeps happening! Plus any live ants we see are walking around carrying body parts in their mouths. We must have cleaned up almost two hundred parts so far!
So, the only theories I can come up with are A: there are two colonies of ants coming into our house that are using that particular area as a battleground and the carnage is left behind, or B: the poison is killing the ants in the colony and ones that are still alive are pissed and bringing parts of the dead ants back into our house just to freak us out.
Or C: the damn house is haunted.
Are there any entomologists out there that can help explain what's going on and what to do about it? Please?
So, the only theories I can come up with are A: there are two colonies of ants coming into our house that are using that particular area as a battleground and the carnage is left behind, or B: the poison is killing the ants in the colony and ones that are still alive are pissed and bringing parts of the dead ants back into our house just to freak us out.

Are there any entomologists out there that can help explain what's going on and what to do about it? Please?
#2
Re: Weird ant problem in my house, anyone know what's going on?
Wow. I haven't heard of ants starting up a decoy turf war of this savagery in, like, ever.
I'd advise you to sell, but it's too late.
I'd advise you to sell, but it's too late.
#3
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Re: Weird ant problem in my house, anyone know what's going on?
Dammit, we were planning to sell next year!
I was just sweeping up more body parts in the laundry room beside the main problem area, and an ant came scurrying in from out of nowhere and tried to grab one of the heads I was sweeping up. What the fuck???
I was just sweeping up more body parts in the laundry room beside the main problem area, and an ant came scurrying in from out of nowhere and tried to grab one of the heads I was sweeping up. What the fuck???

#6
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Re: Weird ant problem in my house, anyone know what's going on?
I had ants in my kitchen a couple of weeks ago. Because I have cats, I didn't want to use anything that might harm them, so I researched and somebody recommended Terro, basically it's an ant drinking fountain that contains sugar water with borax added in, which won't hurt pets but gives bugs fatal indigestion. I'm not kidding when I tell you my ants were gone within DAYS.
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Re: Weird ant problem in my house, anyone know what's going on?
I had ants in my kitchen a couple of weeks ago. Because I have cats, I didn't want to use anything that might harm them, so I researched and somebody recommended Terro, basically it's an ant drinking fountain that contains sugar water with borax added in, which won't hurt pets but gives bugs fatal indigestion. I'm not kidding when I tell you my ants were gone within DAYS.
By the way, I believe most of the ants we deal with now are the type with multiple queens, so you can't just eradicate by getting the queen.
#11
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Re: Weird ant problem in my house, anyone know what's going on?
Otter hasn't failed to deliver teh funny. 
They aren't huge, but big enough where I can see the three body segments of a living ant, and individual pieces of dead ones. Ick!
Thanks Vibs, I might give Terro a try.
My wife and I did more investigating and determined that they were coming from the laundry room. The laundry tub by the washing machine was full of dead ants! I looked around with a flashlight and one of the ceiling beams in the basement near the wall and above the tub seems to have some kind of ant nest burrowed into it. I sprayed the hell out of it and tomorrow I will look outside near that area (unfortunately it's in the crawlspace under the back deck). Shit, we might need an exterminator or something.

I had ants in my kitchen a couple of weeks ago. Because I have cats, I didn't want to use anything that might harm them, so I researched and somebody recommended Terro, basically it's an ant drinking fountain that contains sugar water with borax added in, which won't hurt pets but gives bugs fatal indigestion. I'm not kidding when I tell you my ants were gone within DAYS.
My wife and I did more investigating and determined that they were coming from the laundry room. The laundry tub by the washing machine was full of dead ants! I looked around with a flashlight and one of the ceiling beams in the basement near the wall and above the tub seems to have some kind of ant nest burrowed into it. I sprayed the hell out of it and tomorrow I will look outside near that area (unfortunately it's in the crawlspace under the back deck). Shit, we might need an exterminator or something.

#13
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Re: Weird ant problem in my house, anyone know what's going on?
The ants parts thing is pretty freaky...
We're currently dealing with 'micro' ants. I've never seen ants so small. Maybe just over 1/32" long.
You have to look really closely to see that they are actually ants.
They showed up when I cut up some strawberries and didn't notice that I got a bit of juice on the counter.
Obligatory:
We're currently dealing with 'micro' ants. I've never seen ants so small. Maybe just over 1/32" long.
You have to look really closely to see that they are actually ants.
They showed up when I cut up some strawberries and didn't notice that I got a bit of juice on the counter.
Obligatory:

#14
Re: Weird ant problem in my house, anyone know what's going on?
I've noticed ants carrying away dead ants before and thought they were just cannibalistic. But after looking it up, it appears that ants are programmed to carry their dead away. They need to keep their nest free from disease and stuff, so make sure to carry the dead far away.
#16
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Re: Weird ant problem in my house, anyone know what's going on?
I had ants in my kitchen a couple of weeks ago. Because I have cats, I didn't want to use anything that might harm them, so I researched and somebody recommended Terro, basically it's an ant drinking fountain that contains sugar water with borax added in, which won't hurt pets but gives bugs fatal indigestion. I'm not kidding when I tell you my ants were gone within DAYS.
#17
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#18
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Thread Starter
Re: Weird ant problem in my house, anyone know what's going on?
I've noticed ants carrying away dead ants before and thought they were just cannibalistic. But after looking it up, it appears that ants are programmed to carry their dead away. They need to keep their nest free from disease and stuff, so make sure to carry the dead far away.

After I sprayed last night it seems there are less but still some new pieces lying about. And now I am finding them in my man cave too, this means war!
#24
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: Weird ant problem in my house, anyone know what's going on?
Watch out! The ants have become intelligent and entered Phase III.
Once they get to PHASE IV, they take over the world, and mankind is doomed! And a pretty girl becomes their new queen...
Once they get to PHASE IV, they take over the world, and mankind is doomed! And a pretty girl becomes their new queen...