Ants Driving You Antsy?

Ants can destroy anybody's mood, whether you're raving mad or feeling romantic. The moment they sting, you freeze and itch. When they raid the pantry, the books, and the clothes, you can curse yourself to the next county, but they will stay unless you take up arms against these tiny pests.

Just when you're enjoying your carrots coated with roasted garlic, they come in swarms to the picnic basket. These pests can really destroy the mood for a carefree afternoon picnic in the park. And when they invade the home, prepare for the havoc they can wreck. One way you can get them out is keeping all food scraps and trash bins far from the house.

But if it is still not enough, time to boil those red hot chili peppers and pour this over the ant mounds. With ants as enemies, you've got to practice Kaizen. 'Kaizen' is a Japanese word that means a gradual, orderly effort towards continuous improvement. In the case of ants, it's the improvement of your artillery to wipe out the pest from your home.

Red Hot Chili Peppers?

With the profusion of chemicals and pesticides, its better to go natural to rid the pests to kingdom come. Here's what you'll need:

1. an old kettle that can hold a gallon of water

2. 3 cups fresh or dried chili peppers

3. a pair of long gloves

4. eye protection

5. Syringe (2)

You can boil more than 1 gallon, if you think you need more ammunition. It's always handy to have an extra gallon around when you attack the ant mounds. Don't attempt to go near the steam and keep children out of the way. When you're ready, deck yourself out with a pair of long gloves and as much as possible avoid contact with the water. In case you accidentally do have contact, be ready to prepare a glass of cold milk to rub over the affected skin area.

Find the ant hill or mound, or look in the garden. They may be hiding under a rock. Don't disturb the peace until you have boiled the water together with the chili. With a syringe, extract the chili-infused water and inject into all openings in the ant mound. Destroy the ant mound, but be ready with your "hot" water. Expect pandemonium, so be prepared with enough hot water to flood the disturbed mound.

Regular dousing will send the ants packing, or greatly reduce their numbers. You can also use the same concoction for aphids and other plant pests. For this, reduce the number of chili to 2 cups. Share the recipe with your neighbors to prevent the return of the pests.

Anti-ant Measures

Ants love to feed on scraps. Take all leftovers and wrap them up before tossing into the garbage pile and promptly wipe the table with a rag soaked with a disinfectant and water solution. Remove all water trapped in outdoor containers. Ants need water to survive, too.

Be regular in your anti-ant campaigns. They can't stand the sting of chili peppers and boiling water. They'll move away, alas, to your neighbor's house and garden.