Help....ants

~Ray~Gingerich · Thu May 08, 2014 8:43 pm

I have tree swallows nesting in a bluebird box, it's mounted on a wooden pole with 6"pvc for predator guard. When I checked the nest it was loaded with large fast crawling ants. How can I get rid of them?

MamaBruff · Thu May 08, 2014 9:01 pm

I had a similar problem with my chickadees; I put sevin real heavy around the base of the pole, and also put some in each of the 4 corners of the nest. Babies fledged last week!

JR4-AL · Thu May 08, 2014 10:45 pm

I agree with Sevin or Diatamcious earth to rid the nest of all creepy crawlys. I would also apply a ring of (automotive) grease around the pole. It does not have to be very thick just continious so the ants can not pass. This works great for ants getting to your hummingbird feeders too (the grease idea, of course). One application should last all season.

~Ray~Gingerich · Fri May 09, 2014 7:06 am

Well, last evening I took the nest out all in one piece, it was loaded with ants. I left it outside overnight then this morning put in a good dose of sevin and placed the nest on top. will see what happens.
Will try to grease the pole also.

RC Moser · Fri May 09, 2014 7:47 am

the sevin will work. But I would also stop the trail at the base of the poles.

IMO all PM poles need protected from ant's. Here in Olkieland the little red ants will chew on new born and if not eradicated can kill them. I treat the nests, base of the poles, and apply grease to the base of the poles. sometimes I even use fly tape above the grease to see it anything defeating my defense. I see at least 10 species of ant's in my yard. I am always eradicating their mounds.

Deborah B · Fri May 09, 2014 8:59 am

I've always has issues with ants and my hummingbird feeders until I bought one of those bell things and coated the inside of it with mentholatum (didn't have vaseline). It stopped them from coming down the wire to my feeders. Grease keeps ants away. Perhaps, I should grease the perimeter of my house and keep the little boogers at bay that way. They were frolicing on my kitchen counter this week and I had to go to the Co-op and buy some Viper and spray them away. (outside of course)

Jose Rodriguez · Fri May 09, 2014 10:40 am

As a preventative I spread Diazinon Insect/Ant Killer or Ortho Max Ant Killer granules with a spreader about 6 foot out from the base of all the poles. I see tons of ant mounds in the field but so far not inside the area I spread. I do this for our Swift Tower also. Little expensive but we have it anyway for our lawn.

klcretired · Fri May 09, 2014 11:42 am

Hello Ray & Everyone,
I use Bengal Roach Spray it is a Odorless Non Staining Spray that lasts for up to 6 mths , I have used it for years around all my Poles , trees, etc,etc,etc , Bengal is sold at Home Depot and most grocery stores it has a Picture of The Bengal Tiger on the front of this Orange & Yellow can.
Any Bug or Ant that crosses the path you have sprayed will die, Bengal
comes with a Money Back Guarantee.

Louise Chambers · Fri May 09, 2014 12:03 pm

Jose,

Just a caution- diazinon granules have been implicated in bird kills - forbidden for use at golf courses and I think sod farms, for that reason, back in 1988. Birds that feed on the ground (bluebirds, etc) can pick up the granules, and one granule can kill a small bird.

I would read the label carefully and maybe do a bit of research. Of course, you may have done that already - but I believe the ban of granules for some applications has been in place for many years. I have not looked at the exact product you are using, so I could be off base, but thought I'd mention, just in case.

edit: here's a link - it's pretty toxic to birds. http://www.abcbirds.org/abcprograms/pol ... zinon.html

Jose Rodriguez · Fri May 09, 2014 2:50 pm

You are correct Louise. I apologize for even saying Diazinon. I'm not sure why that is even in my head! After coming home and going to the shed to read what I use it was Triazicide for Lawns. Duh! I get it from Lowe's.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_200961-316-2009 ... Id=3075985

Sorry about my goof people!

I want to try Tree Tanglefoot as soon as I can. I hear it works well on poles.

Once again my sorry folks!

~Ray~Gingerich · Sat May 10, 2014 7:54 am

Thanks every one for your help.... the tree swallow was in the nest this morning and no ants.

4th Gen Martin Fan · Sat May 10, 2014 9:27 am

Ray,
Remember, some people are still reluctant to do nest checks!
You saved the day by doing nest checks on your tree swallows.
I am curious what the status of the nesting phase the tree swallows were in. I would presume that they had built a nest but did not have eggs yet. Otherwise, how were you able to get the nest out and let it air out overnight?
Sounds like something I might do but I would probably have provided a temporary nest for the adults to nest in overnight.
Is it even feasible to do a complete nest change on a tree swallow's nest?
I have never had tree swallows so I am the newbie in this situation.
Lots of bluebird experience, but no tree swallow.
What did you do?
Mark.

Larry A Kronemeyer · Sat May 10, 2014 10:39 am

Spray pole base with white lithium grease from ground up a foot. Ants do not like it.

~Ray~Gingerich · Sat May 10, 2014 11:14 am

Mark there was nothing in the nest, I just took it out and applied the sevin on house floor the next morning the ants were no longer in the nest so I put it back, she has an egg now.