Jump to content
Instructions on joining the Members Only Forum

Computer bugs

m62man

By m62man,
in Technical problems or questions.

 Share Followers 0

Recommended Posts

m62man

m62man 0

Posted
Posted

My lap-top is infested with tiny ants. They are so small I can only see them with my glasses on. I am not exaggerating much - they are smaller than a speck of dust, a tenth of the size of a pin-head, honestly. I feel them running up over my hands and onto my arms. It's really tickly. They don't bite or anything, and I suppose they will run out of food in there eventually - I don't often eat over the keyboard!

When I was in Penang my friends sugar was infested with ants. He poured the sugar onto a sheet of newspaper and the ants just ran away. It was a miracle! I've tried it with my lap-top, but it doesn't work. Any suggetions?

Link to post
Share on other sites
kaiser71

kaiser71 30

Posted
Posted (edited)

I thought this was going to be a tech problem. I'll give it a try.

 

You said they are very small. Probably either sugar ants(dark) or ghost ants(light, almost see-thru). Sugar ants march pretty strait. Ghost ants march very irratically. Sugar ants want sugar. Ghost ants seem to want water mostly.

 

You can google "how to get rid of _____ ants" for products you can buy at a homedepot like store. I've used "Terro Ant Killer" ~$4 on both kinds with ok results. You dribble a little on pieces of paper and leave this "bait" in their path. They eat it, take it back to the nest, hopefully the colony dies. There are most likely many colonies.

 

While you're at it, get a gallon of home pest control spray ~ $10. Spray the baseboard all around the perimeter of your condo - paying more attention to windows, doors, and under sinks. Do this once every month or two. But don't spray in their path - this will just alter their route, delaying your victory. Leave for a few hours after application.

 

Good luck. And thanks for all your effort on the condo thread - very informative.

Edited by kaiser71
Link to post
Share on other sites
stevoman

stevoman 2

Posted
Posted
My lap-top is infested with tiny ants. They are so small I can only see them with my glasses on. I am not exaggerating much - they are smaller than a speck of dust, a tenth of the size of a pin-head, honestly. I feel them running up over my hands and onto my arms. It's really tickly. They don't bite or anything, and I suppose they will run out of food in there eventually - I don't often eat over the keyboard!

When I was in Penang my friends sugar was infested with ants. He poured the sugar onto a sheet of newspaper and the ants just ran away. It was a miracle! I've tried it with my lap-top, but it doesn't work. Any suggetions?

 

Calling "Joekicker" come in Guru! :rolleyes:

Link to post
Share on other sites
kaiser71

kaiser71 30

Posted
Posted

Second thought. I was assuming my experience in the US would tranfer to Thailand. That was probably stupid. Get a sample of them in a jar. Bring that along with a TG, with a little english, to the home store. There should be a guy working around the pest control stuff familiar with the common local varieties.

Link to post
Share on other sites
Ergodyne

Ergodyne 19

Posted
Posted

Just found this on the net !

 

 

Can Ants Eat Your Computer? Why the "crazy rasberry" ant infests electronic devices.

 

Electronic devices near Houston, Texas, are under attack by a species known as the "crazy rasberry ant" (Paratrechina species near pubens), which is thought to have arrived as a stowaway on a cargo ship in 2002. According to the Associated Press, the ants seem to be attracted to electrical equipment and have been "shorting out electrical boxes and messing up computers" wherever they go. This has raised concerns that the ants might cause serious damage to electrical equipment in sensitive locations like Houston's Hobby Airport and NASA's Johnson Space Center, as well as homes and businesses in the city. What do ants like about electronics? no one really knows. Research has shown that some ant species are capable of detecting electromagnetic fields and may even use the Earth's magnetic field as a directional cue as they search for food or nest sites. Their attraction to man-made electrical devices may be an accidental evolutionary byproduct of this natural ability.

 

The ants may also be drawn to pieces of electrical equipment because they make great nests. Invasive species like the crazy rasberry ant are adapted to environments that are constantly changing, so they are always searching for new homes. In the wild, these ants might nest in small cavities beneath fallen leaves, inside branches, or at the base of palm fronds. Electrical switch boxes, gas meters, or your PC make ideal homes because they are dry and have small, easily defendable entrances

Link to post
Share on other sites
9cisco999

9cisco999 107

Posted
Posted
Don't worry! As long as you have ants you will not have a problem with roaches because ants eat roaches.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I wish that was true....I admit to being anal about fucking cockroaches. Ants don't bother me in the least unless they're of the biting variety. I find them interesting along with other colony type insects.

Link to post
Share on other sites
joekicker

joekicker 53

Posted
Posted (edited)
Calling "Joekicker" come in Guru! D

 

Take your glasses off. If you can't see them, they aren't there.

 

First thing I'd do, compressed air and blow them out, and hopefully the crumbs or whatever they're in they're for. Next thing, if no joy, remove the machine somewhere else for a few days, meanwhile doing one hell of a scrubdown on and around the computing area.

 

.

Edited by joekicker
Link to post
Share on other sites
jacko

jacko 8,775

Posted
Posted
Throw your laptop in a bucket of water and the ants should float to the surface.
Could microwave it or put it in the freezer.....
Link to post
Share on other sites
jacko

jacko 8,775

Posted
Posted
must be a common problem, so i assume there is a readily available...ANTidode somewhere
I was awaiting some good 'anti' puns but so far it has been an anticlimax.
Link to post
Share on other sites
m62man

m62man 0

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Kaiser 71 - "You said they are very small. Probably either sugar ants(dark) or ghost ants(light, almost see-thru). Sugar ants march pretty strait. Ghost ants march very irratically. Sugar ants want sugar. Ghost ants seem to want water mostly."

On this basis, they are ghost ants. They are almost too small to see, never mind see through, but they are very light in colour and they do march erratically - running round in circles on the floor sometimes, 'til I stamp on them.

I think I will try leaving the lap-top out on the balcony tonight, with some sugar next to it and see if they all get in the bowl. I could leave them a glass of water, but I can't see them falling for that!

I will also buy some spray and treat the condo generally. I'll take my Landlady who will probably know what to buy, and have a spray round.

As to the suggestion that I take my glasses off and ignore them, well this would be ok if they didn't tickle so much. I would end up scratching all the time, and I have enough trouble getting a girlfriend as it is!

Link to post
Share on other sites
farman

farman 11

Posted
Posted
My lap-top is infested with tiny ants. They are so small I can only see them with my glasses on. I am not exaggerating much - they are smaller than a speck of dust, a tenth of the size of a pin-head, honestly. I feel them running up over my hands and onto my arms. It's really tickly. They don't bite or anything, and I suppose they will run out of food in there eventually - I don't often eat over the keyboard!

When I was in Penang my friends sugar was infested with ants. He poured the sugar onto a sheet of newspaper and the ants just ran away. It was a miracle! I've tried it with my lap-top, but it doesn't work. Any suggetions?

 

 

ANT got a clue sorry mate!

:banana

Link to post
Share on other sites
kaiser71

kaiser71 30

Posted
Posted (edited)
I will also buy some spray and treat the condo generally.

Spraying the perimeter will help keep them out. Spraying the individual ants will scatter the group and create more colonies. Get some ant bait.

 

I hope your problem isn't as bad as this guy

 

This shows how to use the terro bait

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FP8AsEDkNZI

 

and the ants go nuts over it

 

The spray looks like this

ortho.jpeg

 

The bait looks like this

terro.jpg

ortho.jpeg

Edited by kaiser71
Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Followers 0
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    No registered users viewing this page.

×
×
  • Create New...