[Summit] carpenter ant solutions that won't kill bees!

[Breslers]

We use Diatomaceous Earth.  Have for years.

Diatomaceous Earth is ground up fossils- a fine powder- which is like
broken glass to insects
but they must come in contact with it for it to cut them and cause them to
dehydrate.
Bees & ants go different places, so apply it accordingly.

I actually saw some for sale at J & L Landscaping on rt 44 last week.

Most years I "poof apply" a ring of it to the underside of the shingle part
of walls outside- where they meet the brick foundation- and around basement
window frames. That keeps out almost all the ants that used to invade us.

It can work on a porch, under an over hang or indoors (rain washes it away)
It only needs to be applied sparingly, usually "poofed" out of a squeeze
bottle- the powder makes a little dust cloud easily, if kept properly dry.
You can get specially made applicator or use cafe-type ketchup/mustard
dispenser
but don't lose the little top. If it gets damp it won't cooperate with
"poofing" for application.
Apply extra at know paths to nests and insects will bring it to nests on
their bodies.

It is NOT toxic, mostly calcium & silica, but be sensible- DON'T breathe it
while applying- the microscopic sharp crystals are likely also not good for
lungs.
But the little puffs settle quickly and it does not fly back up in the air,
once applied.

There is probably a YouTube video about this, come to think of it.

Mrs B

On Tue, May 31, 2016 at 4:58 PM, Ellen Santaniello <esantaniello at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Howdy collective brain -- Had front porch rebuilt last year and discovered
> water damage and carpenter ants. Naively hoped the nice new dry conditions
> would mitigate problem but have seen a few carpenter ants this past week.
> Want them gone, but do not want to poison pollinators. Anybody have
> experience with this or a company to recommend? Ellen on Mayflower St.
>
>
>
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>



-- 
FISHEL BRESLER'S KLEZMER & HASSIDIC MUSIC -
*funded in part by a Folk Arts Fellowship grant from the RI State Council
on the Arts*.
www.LinkedIn.com/in/FishelBresler
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