(question) difference between baby powder with water / alcohol

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carrotants
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Joined: Mon Feb 14, 2022 8:59 am
Location: Singapore

(question) difference between baby powder with water / alcohol

Post: # 97906Post carrotants
Sat Jan 21, 2023 9:35 am

Hi,

Recently, I noticed that my ant farm's previous layer of baby powder (applied by previous owner) had begun to wear off, so I applied a new layer with baby powder and water, and only realised that alcohol was recommended after I was done.

Is there any functional difference between baby powder with water and with alcohol in their ability to keep ants out? Here the temperature pretty much never goes below 20 degrees at all times of the year, so I thought that it might not make too much of a difference since both will evaporate.

Thanks!

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antperson24
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Location: North East Iowa

Re: (question) difference between baby powder with water / alcohol

Post: # 97909Post antperson24
Sat Jan 21, 2023 1:22 pm

carrotants wrote:
Sat Jan 21, 2023 9:35 am
Hi,

Recently, I noticed that my ant farm's previous layer of baby powder (applied by previous owner) had begun to wear off, so I applied a new layer with baby powder and water, and only realised that alcohol was recommended after I was done.

Is there any functional difference between baby powder with water and with alcohol in their ability to keep ants out? Here the temperature pretty much never goes below 20 degrees at all times of the year, so I thought that it might not make too much of a difference since both will evaporate.

Thanks!
It should not make any difference, except alcohol evaporates much faster than water.
Why keep ants that aren't found in your yard?
There are so many fascinating ants right where you live!
I disagree with the keeping/buying of ants that aren't in your area.

Join Ants, Plants, and Myrmecology: https://discord.gg/BeQuNf8yTN

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Antloverhuman
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Location: Delhi, India

Re: (question) difference between baby powder with water / alcohol

Post: # 97913Post Antloverhuman
Sun Jan 22, 2023 12:48 am

Some science stuff
Baby powder is hydrophobic meaning it wont evenly mix with water but it will with alcohol. So putting it with alcohol makes a more even and better layer of baby powder. Also, as alcohol evaporates much faster, it doesn't let the baby power drip down with it and possibly make a weak point in the barrier
Ants I have-
camponotus compressus colony- the shadow warriors.
Pls just let me have a tetramorium colony

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antperson24
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Joined: Tue Feb 22, 2022 4:01 pm
Location: North East Iowa

Re: (question) difference between baby powder with water / alcohol

Post: # 97932Post antperson24
Wed Jan 25, 2023 7:59 am

Antloverhuman wrote:
Sun Jan 22, 2023 12:48 am
Some science stuff
Baby powder is hydrophobic meaning it wont evenly mix with water but it will with alcohol. So putting it with alcohol makes a more even and better layer of baby powder. Also, as alcohol evaporates much faster, it doesn't let the baby power drip down with it and possibly make a weak point in the barrier
That's interesting.
Why keep ants that aren't found in your yard?
There are so many fascinating ants right where you live!
I disagree with the keeping/buying of ants that aren't in your area.

Join Ants, Plants, and Myrmecology: https://discord.gg/BeQuNf8yTN

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