What Preps are you doing this week? Part 8.

[itsybitsy]

It's almost Flying Ant Day - flamethrowers at the ready!

[diamond lil]

I've never had ants before, do they all fly or only certain kinds? These ones are wee black things. All over the paths and patio and on the steps but not seen any inside the house yet.

[jennyjj01]

I've never had ants before, do they all fly or only certain kinds? These ones are wee black things. All over the paths and patio and on the steps but not seen any inside the house yet.

Most ants nests have LOTS of ordinary little workers that hatch early. They just service the ones that will be queen or male consort and can fly. But then there's usually one HOT day where every nest just opens up and masses of flying ants fly out. The flying ants can be 8mm to 15 mm or so with wings longer than their bodies.
Had a colony in my cavity wall insulation at the previous house. They may still be there.
https://www.natgeokids.com/za/discover/ ... ying-ants/
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/1476024/flying-ants-what/
Locally we have brown ants and black ants. Don't know what else is different.

[jansman]

I noticed ants starting to move yesterday in our yard. It’s actually quite a phenomenon.

[grenfell]

As i mow a number of lawns i get to see more gardens than just my own. I've noticed more of the mounds of soil the ants raise in the grass. Seems to be more commonly the reddish brown ants rather than the black ones. Doesn't seem to be a huge problem though.
On the subject of seeing things in the garden there seems to be far less slugs in our garden this year.

[Nurseandy]

I think all your slugs are in my strawberry patch

[diamond lil]

Hot dry weather is bad news for slugs.

[peejay]

Hot dry weather is bad news for slugs.

Yay!

[Arzosah]

The main crop of flying ants were a fortnight ago down here - they hatched underground and crawled up to the surface, I found them when I moved the wheelie bin for the rubbish collection.

My NATO chemical warfare unit not yet put to use Asda delivery arrived and I forgot to order the glass cleaner, and they'd run out of ant powder! I may have to go into a shop! Actually, I'm returning some sliders to Mountain Warehouse this week, so I could hop into Robert Dyas, or even Poundland, see what they've got. I need something ready mixed for emergencies

[jansman]

The main crop of flying ants were a fortnight ago down here - they hatched underground and crawled up to the surface, I found them when I moved the wheelie bin for the rubbish collection.

My NATO chemical warfare unit not yet put to use Asda delivery arrived and I forgot to order the glass cleaner, and they'd run out of ant powder! I may have to go into a shop! Actually, I'm returning some sliders to Mountain Warehouse this week, so I could hop into Robert Dyas, or even Poundland, see what they've got. I need something ready mixed for emergencies

I noticed ant powder on a dedicated stand in our local co op