Controlling ants is similar to controlling cockroaches. Here is a copy of an answer to another visitor to the Ask P.R. Mantis and BUGMAN site. She asked about cockroaches, but in the answer, we also address ants - even link you to a page from the BUG-Quiz Answers that focuses on ants specifically. So, hope this helps!

 

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Well, cockroaches in apartments obviously are a huge problem - and a huge industry! If people knew how easy and inexpensive it was to live without 'em, Orkin et al, might be out of business! So who's going to tell you how to do it? All the folks with the knowledge and money to talk to the public have a conflicting interest when it comes to solving the problem - if they're good, they work themselves to obsolescence!

 

Okay, enough rambling and fuming!

 

It is important to know a little about the pest and it's "motivation." They are there because it's a place they can "make a living" - or else they'd leave. So you should think in terms of making it an undesirable place to live. How? Well, it would be a similar approach to the one you might use for ants with minor adaptations. Look at the BUG-Quiz Answer Page for info on that;

 

There's is a lot of stuff in there about the way ants feed. Cockroaches are scavengers. They will eat just about anything they find laying around. If they are in your house, they will definitely be able to find food. It doesn't matter how clean your house is - they'll eat their dead if they have to!!

 

So the idea is to make your apartment less attractive than your neighbor's (hey, it's a tough world!) If you are concerned about an entire apartment building, you have a little different problem that might require more "drastic" measures. You would need to:

 

      a) Get EVERY tenant in the building to do the "Formula 409/Combat thing." (see the web page if you don't know what I'm  talking about!) You need to encourage them to go to someone else's building. If only one occupant cannot comply, they will migrate there. It doesn't take much. They will seek places where the livin' is easy, so your place just needs to smell clean relative to your neighbors - on whatever scale!

 

      b) If it is a big, old infestation, you might need chemical warfare to get the upper hand. They could be well established in the wall voids and basement and attic, etc. You can't use household cleaners in the wall voids! So, it might be worth it, in this case, to seek professional help. But pay attention. They nearly always recommend repeat visits. One is usually not worth it. If there are a lot of eggs around, the initial treatment won't get to them. So in a couple of weeks, it's usually worth it to do it again. You still need to have the entire building done, because cr's are smart! They'll move to the safe place - on the lam! I would be reluctant to set up a "contract" for more than two visits. Inspections should be done to see if the problem is solved. you can do that. They should NEVER spray unless the animals are SEEN! Don't see - Don't spray!

 

When I first moved into this place, it was pretty bad. There were carcasses and empty ootheca (egg cases) all over the place. Especially on top of the kitchen cabinets. Since I hadn't really moved all my stuff in yet, I bought one of those fumigating "bombs" and went to a movie or something. When I came back, it was kinda gross how many dead cr's were around. I cleaned up and then used Formula 409 in and on all the cupboards and cabinets. Then I put out Combat Cockroach Disks. I would see a baby every once in a while for the next couple of weeks. I'd kill it when I could (uninvited guests require a certain kind of respect!). Now I haven't seen one for nearly 6 years! It worked!!

 

If you have children or pets around it is very important to place the Combat things in an appropriate place. If your children are old enough to understand, you should let them know it is very dangerous poison. Otherwise, these things are very safe since they are contained, and fairly effective.