Ant barrier for Lasius sp.?

[WyrdAnt]

What kind of barriers have you used for Lasius and how have they worked?

[idahoantgirl]

Plain baby powder should do well. My lasius colonies were pretty tiny so the barrier wasn't tested very well but I know they can cross babypowder + alcohol. my tetramorium can't cross plain baby powder, but they could cross babypowder +alcohol.

[Fayestone]

Hiya, I’m wondering the same. I’ve heard Vaseline isn’t so great and I’m struggling to buy either rubbing alcohol / surgical spirits and fluon in the UK.

Any help or suggestions would be great

[idahoantgirl]

Fluon is supposed to be the best barrier out there. After that I would say plain baby powder applied with a dry cotton ball, no alcohol.

[Hunter36o]

Sorry Idaho, but could you have messed up the mixture? (Not trying to point names and name fingers :p) I only ask because I have never heard of the powder plus alcohol to fail. Well excluding the relentless force of topical fire ants trying to break through.

If you are 100% that the mixture was not the issue I would love to hear your theory on why the ants can get past what I have read as the best home made barrier. I have Lasius Niger queen's and I would hate for a colony to excape because I was unaware they could crawl over the barrier.

[AntsOfOntario]

Sorry Idaho, but could you have messed up the mixture? (Not trying to point names and name fingers :p) I only ask because I have never heard of the powder plus alcohol to fail. Well excluding the relentless force of topical fire ants trying to break through.

If you are 100% that the mixture was not the issue I would love to hear your theory on why the ants can get past what I have read as the best home made barrier. I have Lasius Niger queen's and I would hate for a colony to excape because I was unaware they could crawl over the barrier.

Alcohol and baby powder has worked for me.

[Fayestone]

Thank-you, I hadn’t realised hat you could use the plain baby powder. I’ve managed to get my hands on some fluon after all, arriving in a couple of days.

[AntAnett]

Hello!

Tomorow I will be putting my tiny colony of Lasius Niger to the arena, and I have plastic bucket that works for arena. I used fluon on the walls, but I did it first time in my life and I cpuld (or not) do it wrong, the barrier can be to thick or to small. But anyway, answer for my question is very important to me, cause this might cost my ants their lives:

Can I use fluon with closed arena? I think I have fairy ventylation in there, but it's not an open box, so I'm worried, will they by OK?

And btw, I've heard that from time to time I should clean the old fluon and put a fresh barier, so how to get rid of fluon from plastick walls?