We've been overrun with ants over the last couple of (rainy) days. Does anyone know where I can get ant powder, or similar, in Nong Khai?

I have previously got stuff like that from Home Pro in Udon, but don't want to go to Udon just for that. Surely one or more of the small hardware shops must sell that sort of product.

You can buy a Japanese product from Tesco Lotus that you put on the foor near the ants nest, its similar to a sweet cookie mix which the ants eat and take back to their nest and feed to their babies. It's laced with poison and over the course of a couple of days you can wipe out the whole nest. All other products like powder, chalk and sprays only kill the visible worker ants.

I have been using Nippon ant killer liquid which my Mother sent over from the UK, it works the same way but is a sweet gel rather than powder. It works very well for keeping down the ant numbers. The trouble is it dries up very quickly in the Thai heat so you have to keep reapplying it regularly.

Thanks, Lee. I know the sort of stuff you mean. It provides a much better and longer term solution. I'll have a proper look in NK Tesco after the weekend (crowds). In the meantime, I've managed to find some of the chalk locally.

I've been over run with ants lately as well.

I haven't been able to find the product you mentioned Lee, I don't suppose you have a name for it by any chance?

That's quite an interesting link there Westerby, but the biggest problem with tackling an ant's nest, is finding it in the 1st place, I can't for the life of me find out where my problematic ants are coming from.

Hmm, wish I had a dog to blame it on, but I don't unfortunately

They don't take long to re-group though.

Well I got some of the tiny pellets (granules) that you put into a (yellowy green colour) plastic tray and leave in a suitable area, though they don't seem to want to go in and take the stuff.

I've also used powder and chalk, which kill those that cross it, but agreed doesn't affect those elsewhere or those in the nest. The main problem lately is as soon as I've put something down, it pours with rain and washes the lot away!

There are some good tips on that site Westerby, but some seem a little far fetched and I doubt that I will ever have the time or patience to 'observe my ants to see what they like" , still a few more options to consider.

I've had a read through that website quoted. There were some very useful ideas, though a number of the household products mentioned were American and therefore not available locally.

I am currently observing our ants, which seem to like odd things left on the worktops, but don't take the various poisons that we then put close by. So I haven't yet worked out their particular taste, though I know most ants have a sweet tooth!! I spotted the one reference to salt and am trying that one.

westerby wrote:Isn't that why ex-pats retire to LOS? Well apart from Lee, who's so busy that he can't sleep these days.

Sorry, we're moving off topic....

Hmm, I still have the best part of 30 years till I can officially retire, and I'm also getting a few sleepless nights so I guess it's not all R&R in Nong Khai unfortunately.

Right back to the topic of ants