Dead ant, dead ant, dead ant, dead ant, dead ant...

[Jamastiene]

Okay, I'm asking for any insight anyone may have. Starting about 2 days ago, dead ants starting showing up in my kitchen. I have found about 4 of them now. And they are certifiably dead. I'm conflicted. Should I be grossed out or alarmed? I mean if they were live ants, I would know how to feel about this, but they are dead. Why are dead ants showing up in my kitchen?

P.S. This is no joke. Dead ants are really just showing up in my kitchen and I cannot find a live one or a single place where they are showing up more than elsewhere. This is weird.

[Heidi]

1. Just vacuum them up.

That's what I'd do. We get an ant invasion along our kitchen window every summer, and I do some "organic" stuff to deter them from coming inside (like lemon juice, etc.) But if they're dead, I just vacuum them up.

[Jamastiene]

5. I did put some

dry uncooked grits down for the ones that came through last summer. I can't remember where I put it though. I prefer to use an organic method too. I have been cleaning them up as I see them. It's just a couple a day. Oddly enough. I wonder why they are dead already though. It's odd.

[Heidi]

8. Gorged on grits, perhaps?

I dunno. I guess instead of vacuuming, I probably should be sweeping my dead ants up and returning them to the earth, huh?

[Jamastiene]

10. You could

But then again, the stuff you vacuum up a lot of times, (dust, hair, etc.) could go there too. If I see that most of what is in my vacuum cleaner is just dirt I tracked in from outside, I will send it back where it came from, just out of my foot path. :)

[Heidi]

11. Ah, house cleaning . . .

it's an endless and vicious circle.

[Jamastiene]

13. Yes, it is.

And if that's not enough, I had to clean my shoes today too. Damn river mud from where my yard got wet and my car got stuck in it a couple of weeks ago. I'm still finding clumps of wet clay. A few days ago I sloshed into it without seeing it beforehand. My shoes looked like rottweilers after that what with the black shoes and dark reddish tannish colored clay. That stuff is hard to get off too.

[tuvor]

2. I thought your topic would be the Theme from the Pink Panther. n/t

[Jamastiene]

4. I like that too. Here are the lyrics:

That's why I made the subject line like that. Here are the lyrics to the Theme from Pink Panther:





<end lyrics>

:evilgrin:

Are we good now?

[huellewig]

3. Do you live in a apartment?

Perhaps your neighbors put out poison and they are dieing from it in your kitchen. If you live in a house I doubt they would travel that far looking for food.

Edited to add: From my observations small sugar ants retrieve their dead. Not so sure about other types. I have killed a few in my kitchen and have seen others drag them off.

[Jamastiene]

7. I don't live in an apartment.

And the neighbors live not too close but not too far away either. I did put out a homemade remedy for ants last summer, but I can't remember where. I'm one of those extremely bumbling forgetful people. I'm a lot of fun though. You'd probably enjoy watching me try to remember why I left one room and went into the other room. :)

[Ladyhawk]

6. Hmmmm, it's better than dead aunt, dead aunt, dead aunt, dead aunt.

:evilgrin:

[Jamastiene]

9. Hey Ladyhawk!!!

How are ya doing? I've been thinking about you. Are you doing ok?

And yes, I agree, dead ants are better than dead aunts. LOL. ;)

[Ladyhawk]

12. Ack...I've been having a few hard knocks lately.

I'm having serious money problems and just found out a convict friend of my mother's was paroled and I'm a little bit freaked. Also, check out the post I started in GD...I've been taking a wee trip down Memory Lane and perhaps shouldn't have. :D

[Jamastiene]

14. Will do.

See you there.

[madeline_con]

15. well, if they're dead...

are you talking house or apartment? rental? Is it possible they're walking through pesticid and dying?