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Ants
Jun 7, 2021 11:00:01 GMT -5
Post by esox07 on Jun 7, 2021 11:00:01 GMT -5
Background info: 2011 Sportsmen CLassic 19BH trailer. I rented out my camper this past weekend to a couple with a young daughter. I went to pick up the camper and when I went to open the FW tank drain under the bunk bed, I see a bunch of insects scurrying around on top of the white water tank. My eyes were not adjusted from the sunny outside yet so I couldn't tell what they were, but first though some kind of roach. Anyway, I closed the lid and waited a bit for my eyes to adjust and opened it again and they turned out to be big black ants. Maybe a quarter inch long. There were dozens of them. I went outside and sure enough, there were a some on the ground below the water storage area. Now, I had never seen any of them at any point in the past in my camper. I had opened the tank cover to close the drain valve before the rental and did not see any and if they were there, I am sure I would have as many of them as there were. So, I assume the infiltrated the camper during the rental which was just two nights.
When I got home, I broke out a can of insect killer spray and sprayed the snot out of the whole area under the bunk which houses the Hot water tank, fresh water tank water pump and 30 amp electrical cord. They immediately started scattering and dying. I am sure there were well over 100 I could see dead. There were a few I found outside the tank storage area and I killed them. That was yesterday. Today, I went back in to check and noticed a couple out in the open and under things like the waste basket. I checked all the cupboards and other storage areas and didn't see more than maybe one in any of them. I didn't see any live ones in the tank storage area. So, I am hoping I killed off the colony and the few I found today were just stragglers. I will keep checking periodically, but should I be worried? Should I bug bomb the camper? What would you suggest I do if I continue to see them? Here are some photos after I sprayed the water storage area.
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Ants
Jun 7, 2021 12:27:05 GMT -5
Post by laknox on Jun 7, 2021 12:27:05 GMT -5
First off, did you notice any food the renters left in your trailer? If so, that could have been the "attractant". Second, it could have just been where they parked. If there were ants, they do explore and, if food were around, they could simply be "following their noses", as it were. I'm a fan of AMDRO ant killer, and use it around my house and shop when I notice ants. You could get some and spread it around the jacks and tires to try and prevent another infestation. Other than spiders outside, I've been lucky with both my FWs not being invaded. (Hope I just didn't give myself a kinehora!)
Lyle
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Ants
Jun 7, 2021 13:03:30 GMT -5
Post by esox07 on Jun 7, 2021 13:03:30 GMT -5
Thanks Laknox. These were big black ants, not red ants or sugar ants. I am sure they are probably still attracted to food sources, but I think these were "Carpenter Ants that like wet rotting wood. I have a feeling there was a nest of them in the ground where I parked the camper and I probably parked a tire or stabilizer right on top of the nest which provided the avenue for them to infiltrate. I am 98% sure that I did not have these little bastards before the camper rental and I am sure it was not the fault of the renters leaving food in that water tank area. There was absolutely no reason to pull up the bunk cushion and look under there for any reason. They were very respectful people and I don't think they even used the sink the whole time. I emptied the tanks after the rental and got maybe a couple gallons out of them.
So, I am not sure what attracted them to that storage area. I have no leaks in there. I just want to make sure they don't try to set up shop in my camper permanently as carpenter ants can be on the same par as termites.
I plan to buy some Terro ant bait killer and keep monitoring the camper for signs of them coming back. If so, I may have to call someone professional to come out, but I don't feel the need to do that at this point and pay $200.
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Ants
Jun 7, 2021 21:58:05 GMT -5
Post by esox07 on Jun 7, 2021 21:58:05 GMT -5
Well, I went in again today and notice two on the linoleum floor. Nothing but dead ones in the water tank storage area. I put 4 Terro baits out. They do have big enough openings for these ants. I hope they work. If not, I will have to try something else.
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Ants
Jun 15, 2021 15:40:26 GMT -5
Post by esox07 on Jun 15, 2021 15:40:26 GMT -5
Last two times in my camper over the last few days I have seen no ant activity. A few more dead ones here and there but nothing moving. Those Terro ant baits clearly worked on mine as there were several dead ones around mine and I saw a few in the process of dying. One was even inside the bait feeder dead.
Thanks for everyone's help and advice. I feel the problem is fully resolved at this point.
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Ants
Jun 17, 2021 20:51:34 GMT -5
Post by Edd505 on Jun 17, 2021 20:51:34 GMT -5
Always in the basement for the just in case days.
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Ants
Jun 19, 2021 8:41:56 GMT -5
Post by jfspry58 on Jun 19, 2021 8:41:56 GMT -5
Another vote for Amdro. I’ve used it for years and it kills about every kind of ant.
Jay
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Ants
Jun 20, 2021 12:56:22 GMT -5
Post by esox07 on Jun 20, 2021 12:56:22 GMT -5
Well, after a weekend camping trip, I can confidently say that the Terro ended my problem with ants.
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Ants
Jun 22, 2021 12:49:49 GMT -5
Post by laknox on Jun 22, 2021 12:49:49 GMT -5
Well, after a weekend camping trip, I can confidently say that the Terro ended my problem with ants. Awesome! Lyle
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jl
Newbie RV’er
Posts: 24
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Ants
Aug 22, 2023 6:29:46 GMT -5
Post by jl on Aug 22, 2023 6:29:46 GMT -5
Just a thought. Comet cleanser works wonders around the house. Just make sure your pets don't get into it. A short article on this subject. Hope it helps. antsfact.com/does-comet-kill-ants/
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Ants
Aug 24, 2023 12:21:48 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by ford719 on Aug 24, 2023 12:21:48 GMT -5
Always in the basement for the just in case days.
Terro is what I use as well, I have a tree in my front yard that the big black ants were in, I put an terro outdoor ant killer by it and the ants are gone. Nothing against the other stuff people are recommending I just have used terro since you can't buy diazion anymore
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Ants
Aug 24, 2023 13:00:59 GMT -5
Post by laknox on Aug 24, 2023 13:00:59 GMT -5
I always have Amdro around, but I wish it was a bit smaller grind. Really small ants can still be a problem as they simply can't deal with the large grains as easily.
Lyle
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Ants
Aug 24, 2023 19:36:42 GMT -5
Post by laknox on Aug 24, 2023 19:36:42 GMT -5
dupe removed
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Ants
Oct 27, 2023 19:45:09 GMT -5
Post by gwinger on Oct 27, 2023 19:45:09 GMT -5
I doubt if you had a colony in the trailer. They probably migrated inside from where it was parked. Once one of the scouts finds a food source of any kind he returns to alert others. We have an ongoing problem in our house and none of the baits work for very long. They are coming in from the outside and I cannot find the source. I started using Ortho Home Defense spray. Lasts for a few months.I spoke to a pro and he said the only thing to do is preventive spraying.
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Ants
Oct 28, 2023 16:33:40 GMT -5
Post by Edd505 on Oct 28, 2023 16:33:40 GMT -5
I doubt if you had a colony in the trailer. They probably migrated inside from where it was parked. Once one of the scouts finds a food source of any kind he returns to alert others. We have an ongoing problem in our house and none of the baits work for very long. They are coming in from the outside and I cannot find the source. I started using Ortho Home Defense spray. Lasts for a few months.I spoke to a pro and he said the only thing to do is preventive spraying. Last time I found ants inside I went out and found them climbing a leg of the landing gear, AMDRO at the entrance to the colony. Next day all gone, just that quick.
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Ants
Oct 28, 2023 17:09:49 GMT -5
Post by gwinger on Oct 28, 2023 17:09:49 GMT -5
I doubt if you had a colony in the trailer. They probably migrated inside from where it was parked. Once one of the scouts finds a food source of any kind he returns to alert others. We have an ongoing problem in our house and none of the baits work for very long. They are coming in from the outside and I cannot find the source. I started using Ortho Home Defense spray. Lasts for a few months.I spoke to a pro and he said the only thing to do is preventive spraying. Last time I found ants inside I went out and found them climbing a leg of the landing gear, AMDRO at the entrance to the colony. Next day all gone, just that quick. They will crawl up anything that touches the ground. Sewer hose, water hose and tv coax.
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