Ant extermination help! Ugh
Hi, I looked at all of the older recommendations and we are in a mess with the Argentine ants, seeking current recommendations for an exterminator. We have an ADU / backyard cottage that is being slaughtered; the main house is still able to keep them at bay with periodic use of Terro ant baits and other self-help recommendations.
They are ALL OVER the small backyard cottage and the tenants haven’t been able to keep up, using all of the standard recommendations (Terro ant baits, putting food away immediately in airtight containers, wiping up; plus we use powdered ant repellents outdoors, etc).
Can anyone recommend an extermination company that really does the job? Doesn’t have to be “eco friendly” as there are no kids or pets, we just need the ants GONE and a company that will stand by their work / return as needed, guarantee their work, etc. HEEEEEELP! Any companies you’d avoid too. Thanks so much. We live in the Berkeley flats if that matters, appreciate any recommendations for exterminators you can provide - do it yourself solutions simply aren’t working, thanks.
Parent Replies
All in one pest eliminators really helped us out with our ant problem. Good luck!
We had the same issue last year—truly horror movie level. We use Orkin and a gentleman named Izzy has been absolutely fantastic. He got rid of our ant problem and now maintains with monthly visits. We have young kids and the materials he uses are very safe once dry on the outside perimeter. Highly highly recommend.
Hi
it sounds rough. We have had these ant issues too. We have used caulking and duct tape to close openings. Wrapped and put away all food and promptly wash dishes. Also using cinnamon or hot sauce with a q tip around openings will highly discourage them.
In our experience using exterminators doesn’t work with in the long run and the toxic chemicals are not just a danger to kids and pets but all living creatures. If you feel strongly about killing them using those small round any traps work best as they take the poison back to the nest and share it as food.
Highly recommend Gene Szeto, Capable Pest Control, 510-688-8471. Reasonably priced and came with a one-year warranty, which we haven't needed to use--two years later we are still blissfully ant free.
Capable pest control solved our problems. And at my sister’s house too!
510-688-8471
Matthew Beaman, owner of Beaman Pest Control, was super responsive when I had a flea infestation 2 years ago, and only charged me $200 for inside/outside spray and some very good advice.
I now get quarterly outside treatments for $125. His cell is (925) 325-1836. Text him now for help with your ant infestation!
Hello––like many people we've been there–especially when we first moved into our home in Berkeley over 20 years ago. We have used Aantex Pest Control (https://aantex.com/) and the results have been consistently great. They first came every two months but for the last few years we have them come every three months and all has been well. Best of luck!
I had a major ant infestation a while ago. I called my local exterminator and the owner told me it looked like not only had the queen moved into my house, but it's possibly that there were two colonies and two queens there, a peculiar practice of argentine ants. They sprayed the outside of my house, which usually works, but this time it did nothing. They sprayed where the ants were coming in the bathroom, still nothing. Finally what worked was we figured out where the colonies probably are, opened a preexisting and patched hole in the garage, and the exterminator sprayed directly into the frame of my house, and the ants finally disappeared. Now I have the outside of my house sprayed once or twice a year, right before the rains. Anyways, my exterminator is Burge Pest, their owner is really helpful.
Optigard ant bait gel works for our periodic ant infestations. My son's rental home was getting invaded by ants and the pest control person his landlord sent told him that's what he was using. You can buy it on amazon: here's what it says
We use Burge Pest Control whenever we have an ant problem. They're pretty quick to schedule and they have returned to respray/treat within a month or two when we felt the first time didn't do the job properly (but that only happened once in the last 5years we have used them). burgepest [at] gmail.com (burgepest[at]gmail[dot]com) 888.292.7378
Hi, we had the exact same problem. Our freestanding backyard studio was overrun with ants despite using Terro, etc. We hired Capable Pest Control (found through Yelp), which uses pesticides. They sprayed the outside of our house and studio; we could have sprayed the inside but decided to wait to see if the outside was sufficient. They have a 1 year guarantee and will re-spray at no charge if ants return. There was massive ant carnage the day after; it's been almost a week and there are still a few survivors so I might have them come back to spray the inside.
I use Orkin. Works great.
The good news is that there is help! https://kellypest.net/ We've been on their "anti-anti plan" for a few years which is a treatment every 3 months. We have zero ants now even with a messy sticky toddler. The treatment is all outside the house, they don't need to come inside. It works. And if you notice a few ants (happened to us once), just text them and someone will come back, no additional charge.
The bad news is that there is no cure - the treatment needs to be ongoing because the ants are everywhere. EVERYWHERE! The cost seemed steep at first, but it's worth it to be living an ant-free lifestyle.
I sprinkle cinnamon - works every time.