To kill ants or not to kill ants?

hi froggy,
i do not know about that, but should they decide to make a b line for your back door then they can be stopped by applying barrier of TRANSPARENT flexible filler across the door frame. they will not cross that.
dave

Hi froggy it depends on which you prefer in your garden, ants or ladybirds and bumble bees? ants will kill ladybirds and bumble bees, so maybe this will be some help to you?

i never knew that about the filler dave. my front door and windowsills are covered in ant powder at the min as they seem to like my kitchen. will look out for filler will look alot tidier

Ants are just part of nature - best to work with nature than against it I always find. I do have problems with ants - esp making their nests in my containers and making nests in the lawn. They also 'farm' aphids, protecting them from some preditors. However, they also themselves predate upon other insects that may be garden pests. Personally, I wouldn't dream of using ant traps in the garden (I do use them indoors tho) as I feel that outdoors, every creature has its place.

Rosina - I have never heard of ants killing ladybirds or bumblebees. Ladybirds 'rock' from side to side if ants try to attack them and when things get too much they fly away. My garden has plenty of ants, plenty of ladybirds and plenty of bees - and I don't use ANY pesticides outdoors!!!

Thanks Sid, that's really good to know! (pleased you don't use pesticides too!)

my cousin who is a carpenter told me and i mentioned it at work when we had an ant problem and it worked. believe me. dave.
ps.
has to be transparent flexible filler