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My laptop is infested with ants

by Brando95
25 replies
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This sounds ridiculous but its true and I don't know what to do. Today I woke up a 12pm I checked my site stats at 12:10, by 12:16 9 different ants emerged from my laptop and crawled all over the screen and keyboard. This happens at all times of day, every day. Every time I use my computer ants appear out of nowhere and crawl all over it. The first time I open for the day it a large amount come out but then it slows to a steady 1 ant/hour. Wtf do I do about this? I've never gotten a laptop open without breaking it so I really don't want to risk crippling my IM... I don't know if it is related but my computer has been very slow since has been happening. Could they eat the insides and break it??
  • Profile picture of the author waterotter
    Lol, did you spew coffee on it?
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  • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
    Is this a set-up for a joke about debugging Windows?
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    • Profile picture of the author LynnM
      Wonder if it's this type of ant, moving northwards? It says they like electronic equipment:
      Crazy Ants Invading Southeastern US - Business Insider
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      • Profile picture of the author waterotter
        Originally Posted by LynnM View Post

        Wonder if it's this type of ant, moving northwards? It says they like electronic equipment:
        Crazy Ants Invading Southeastern US - Business Insider
        Thanks, Lynn! Interesting article. I hope they don't make their way to Canada. As they don't move too fast, about 20 to 30 meters per month, I guess we can expect them in a year or two, unless they are bought here "accidentally".
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        • Profile picture of the author msdobe
          Wow, sounds unreal! I've had a really big problem with ants in my house, and it's almost 100% better, but still have problems from time to time. Get Terro... it's a liquid. Put it behind your laptop. All the ants have to do is find it, it draws them like crazy. Then they'll die. Can't imagine you'd have a lot inside your laptop, but keep it out until you don't see any more ants.

          One note, it hardens a bit after a day or two, so the ants won't be able to eat it. So just put a small amount out at a time until it disappears, then add more. It's great!!

          Good luck!
          Jenny

          PS Make sure any kids, pets don't get to it!
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          • Profile picture of the author Floyd Fisher
            Originally Posted by msdobe View Post

            Wow, sounds unreal! I've had a really big problem with ants in my house, and it's almost 100% better, but still have problems from time to time. Get Terro... it's a liquid. Put it behind your laptop. All the ants have to do is find it, it draws them like crazy. Then they'll die. Can't imagine you'd have a lot inside your laptop, but keep it out until you don't see any more ants.

            One note, it hardens a bit after a day or two, so the ants won't be able to eat it. So just put a small amount out at a time until it disappears, then add more. It's great!!

            Good luck!
            Jenny

            PS Make sure any kids, pets don't get to it!
            Forget Terro...my experience in pesticides has led me to start buying what the pros use....and this is what they use on ants:


            Notice how in the video, it's working real well...and should continue to after it hardens.
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        • Profile picture of the author Angle Warrior
          Originally Posted by waterotter View Post

          Thanks, Lynn! Interesting article. I hope they don't make their way to Canada. As they don't move too fast, about 20 to 30 meters per month, I guess we can expect them in a year or two, unless they are bought here "accidentally".
          Did a little math, from SE USA to Cottage Country is about 2613 km, converted into meters that would be 2,613,000 meters now based on an average of 25 meters per month it should take the ants about 871 years before you have to worry, BUT black fly season is just around the corner...
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          • Profile picture of the author waterotter
            Originally Posted by Angle Warrior View Post

            Did a little math, from SE USA to Cottage Country is about 2613 km, converted into meters that would be 2,613,000 meters now based on an average of 25 meters per month it should take the ants about 871 years before you have to worry, BUT black fly season is just around the corner...
            Thanks, Angel Warrior!

            That's great news about the ants, providing they are not accidentally brought here.

            The ice just left the lake yesterday and I have a few patches of snow left, which hopefully will be gone by tomorrow. Our night-time lows are finally above the 0 Celsius mark, but only by a degree or so.....just enough to bring the lil' vermons out!

            BAD NEWS - The black flies are here now. I'm watching moths and other insects flying around outside my front windows. I have the front porch lights on, so that obviously attracts the flying lil' buggers.

            Just can't win for losing, lol!
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      • Profile picture of the author forekast
        Originally Posted by LynnM View Post

        Wonder if it's this type of ant, moving northwards? It says they like electronic equipment:
        Crazy Ants Invading Southeastern US - Business Insider
        Awesome share. Those ants look nasty.

        To the OP: I second the notions of using Raid. Some good methods suggested on here. Just be careful what you do.

        Keep us updated, this is pretty interesting (no offense!).
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        • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
          Sounds like you actually have an antivirus. Don't know of any virus killers that get rid of antiviruses. They would end up deleting themselves.

          Is your laptop an Apple, they like the sugar!

          Best hope is to dust it with ant powder and it suck it it up with a minivac later. Theres a great little store in Ohio that sells them. Name escapes me?
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  • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
    Take the laptop outside. Then get a towel and spray it with Raid or some other insecticide. Drape the towel over the computer and the ants will leave. Obviously, don't soak the towel, just get it moist enough so it stinks. Bye bye ants.
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  • Profile picture of the author waterotter
    Johnston makes a similar product called "Raid Ant Killer", but it doesn't harden and works great. Just be sure to keep it away from any pets you may have.
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    • Profile picture of the author positivenegative
      Just four simple steps Brando . . .

      1. Go to local zoo with hessian sack, and wife/girlfriend with short skirt on.

      2. Get wife/girlfriend to distract zoo-keeper by bending over.

      3. Stealthily put anteater into hessian sack and knot.

      4. Go home and introduce anteater to infected computer.


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      • Profile picture of the author Hopeless Bromantic
        Originally Posted by positivenegative View Post

        Just four simple steps Brando . . .

        1. Go to local zoo with hessian sack, and wife/girlfriend with short skirt on.

        2. Get wife/girlfriend to distract zoo-keeper by bending over        .

        3. Stealthily put anteater into hessian sack and knot.

        4. Go home and introduce anteater to infected computer.
        What if the zoo-keeper is a woman? Or gay? :confused:
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        • Profile picture of the author AprilCT
          I hate to play Captain Obvious here, but if they get in your computer when you don't see them going in there, your home is also likely infested. It would be a really good idea to check that out before they get everywhere. If you have to go the poison route to get rid of them, make sure that stuff is totally out of reach of any children or pets.

          Don't forget to check outside your home as well, depending on what is happening, you might need to treat the outside.

          Every so many years we get the little brown sweet ants that like to invade my kitchen and I think we use Terro (spelling???) as well to get rid of them.
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        • Profile picture of the author devonm
          Originally Posted by Hopeless Bromantic View Post

          What if the zoo-keeper is a woman? Or gay? :confused:
          Jez. That seems to not be a not-so-nice question, hmm?
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          • Profile picture of the author Hopeless Bromantic
            Originally Posted by devonm View Post

            Jez. That seems to not be a not-so-nice question, hmm?
            Why? Is anything wrong with someone being female and/or gay? :confused:
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  • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
    Send them on vacation:
    http://www.booking.com/hotel/tr/gran...af4cb7777909X1

    Seriously, there are ant traps.
    Kind of a 2" x 2" plastic disc with Borax and insecticide inside.
    We've had the same one down for over tow years and no ants.
    A very occasional exterior spray with Raid.

    You can look on YouTube for more natural remedies.

    But, I agree with Captain Obvious about treating the home
    and exterior.

    Definitely keep away from kids and pets.

    Dan
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  • Profile picture of the author ErinWalsh
    There's also the lure the ants into a trap with equal parts powdered sugar and boric acid mixed together in the bottom 2" of a soda bottle/can. That's good for getting rid of ants. You don't want to use regular sugar for that because of the different textures.
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    • Profile picture of the author Karen Blundell
      if you want to prevent ants from getting into your house - plant mint around the perimeter of your house-

      for a organic ant-killer - place cinnamon around where the ants seem to be coming into your house -

      If you have apples on the counter - put them in the fridge unless you want the ants to get at them.

      As for removing them out of your laptop - that is just insane that they got in there to begin with but I would go with travlinguy's suggestion
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    I agree with what Karen says - plant some mint........but first........

    Leave little chunks of meat around outside to draw them outside. They are looking for food and if the food source is crumbs you're dropping in your keyboard, that's where they'll be. Draw them outside than plant plants that deter them -- or sprinkle a little boric acid around the base of the house - spray citrus around the baseboards. They hate orange.

    It's best to use naturals instead of chemical poison whenever possible. You don't want to expose you/your pets to neurotoxins.
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  • Profile picture of the author RobinInTexas
    Boric acid is a powder that will kill the ants, and is not too dangerous to people.

    Rubbing alcohol ( 91% is best) put in a spray bottle or used to wet a rag will kill them on contact. It should be safe on the laptop if you spray lightly.
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