[auntyfifi]

I have a lot of ants in my compost bin, is this a bad thing and will they do any real harm in there

[Mr Rotavator]

Ants are an indicator that the heap is dry, don't go too mad with the water though.

[azubah]

I just ignore them.  They will fly away when they are ready. They produce lovely compost.

[Auntiemogs]

I agree with Azubah.  I have them every year and when the weather gets colder and wetter I just leave the lid off my dalek (they don't like disturbance) and they move out leaving me with some lovely compost. 

[Bing]

i pour some stink rhubarb leaf tea into dalek. they will suffer

[JohnB47]

Ive just noticed an ant colony starting among my onions. Leave them alone?

[the Kergan]

I seem to be getting a lot more ants this year. I have tried the Nippon traps where you put a drop into the centre of the trap. They are meant to eat it and take it back to the nest and it should kill everything.

It don't work. I took the lid off the trap and there were half a dozen ants in it having a right old time. I must have rock hard ants.

I was told the other day that jeyes fluid gets rid of them. Has anyone tried it.

[Yorkie]

I hadn't heard that before, and there are restrictions on using JF on soil.  I certainly wouldn't put it in the compost bin.

[Goosegirl]

Just be aware that Jeye's Fluid is very poisonous to cats.

[the Kergan]

Just be aware that Jeye's Fluid is very poisonous to cats.

Now that is strange. Most of my rear garden is pea shingle and our cat used it as a huge litter tray. When we cleared up after her we would spray the area with jeyes fluid. Our cat never got ill.

I was just going to dilute this to spray on the shingle paths

[auntyfifi]

Thanks guys thats really helpful, I will just let them do the work and reap the rewards

[angelavdavis]

Careful with the ants, hubby, kids and I have all been bitten by very aggressive red ants - disturbed in veg beds. 

My husband had an allergic reaction (he would!).  He was suffering for days with huge blotches over his legs.  A plotholder neighbour's wrist swelled up when she was bitten too.

[Brambles]

I had a large bag of compost from the garden centre that I bought earlier in the year, I put it in the greenhouse.   I went to use it yesterday and the whole bag was one large ants nest!   I cannot move it by myself with so many ants inside... so I will have to wait until they decide to emmigrate!

[Cake Lady]

I've had lots of problems with both red and black ants both in the garden and down the allotment.  I'd read somewhere about using semolina for similar reasons to the nippon stuff, in that the ants take it back to the nest, and when it gets eaten it swells in their stomachs and expodes or something a bit yuck.

I tried it last summer at home and there were a lot less ants for a while, however this year things seem the same.  I've not long ago tried the same at the lottie, but yet to notice any results.  Perhaps it's something that needs doing again / somewhat regularly!

[Brambles]

Some years ago I was told that bicarbonate of soda got rid of ants!   Don't know if this works or why... I have not tried it and was wondering if anyone knew of it?