Ant barrier not working

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AntsRule
Posts: 813
Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2016 2:02 pm
Location: Chester County Pennslyvania

Ant barrier not working

Post: # 36241Post AntsRule
Tue May 22, 2018 6:01 pm

Hi guys its been a while, Ive been inactive over the winter but now warm weather is here yay!! I made a small outworld for one of my small colonies out of alcohol and baby powder, I spread it on and let it dry. I come back the next day and my 3 workers are gone. I still have the queen and brood and cottoned the test tube. What happened? I made sure to spread it super thick and the container has rounded corners, any advise or substitute barriers welcome. THX!
With all the things ants can do, you wonder, who rules the planet :?

Keeper of:
Camponotus Pennsylvanicus
Pheidole sp.

PTasker15
Posts: 309
Joined: Thu Jul 13, 2017 9:41 am
Location: Houston,TX

Re: Ant barrier not working

Post: # 36266Post PTasker15
Wed May 23, 2018 9:57 am

Spread It In A Circular Motion
Keeping ants for 6 years now.

Current Species: Camponotus pennsylvanicus, Camponotus decipiens,Camponotus snellingi Solenopsis invicta,Nylanderia sp,Brachmyrmex patagonicus,Pheidole obscurothorax,Pheidole moerens,Pachycondyla harpax

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antnest8
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Location: Detroit, MI

Re: Ant barrier not working

Post: # 36304Post antnest8
Thu May 24, 2018 3:13 pm

also sometimes the main ingredient is cornstarch for baby powder and that with alcohol does not seem to work. Also your worker problem. keep a look out for them they will most likely come back to the nest.
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idahoantgirl
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Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2015 11:52 am
Location: Idaho, USA

Re: Ant barrier not working

Post: # 36347Post idahoantgirl
Fri May 25, 2018 3:02 pm

I used baby powder and alcohol at first, but my tetramorium could cross it. I found that leaving out the rubbing alcohol and dabbing a cotton ball into dry baby powder then onto the top inch of the outworld rim works soooo much better. They cant cross it now. Also, applying it thick only increases chances of them escaping because there is more to get a foot hold on.
Proverbs 6:6-8

Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.

Keeping Tetramorium immigrans, Tapinoma Sessile

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