How to repel red ants when camping

Anyone have tips on keeping these buggers away from your campsite. Last month we got swarmed every night by red ants at Millerton and they would bite the heck out of my feet if I wasn't paying attention. I keep all our food sealed but they still came out all over the place each night. We are camping again next week at Hensley which isn't to far from Millerton so I assume they are there as well. None of the spray I bought that is suppose to keep bugs away from the area worked. I used the deep woods off camp formula and ortho home defense both of which are suppose to repel ants and they didn't phase them. I really dont want to kill the little buggers just keep them away from my camp. I know my lantern fuel killed them when I spilt it on them when I dropped it trying to fill my lanterns when they bit me but I dont want to go pouring fuel all over the place.
Thanks
Flip....

In the jungle we use ashes (super fine dusty ashes).  Create a border around the area you want to protect and it will deter them.  The dust is super fine and sticks to their hair.  They don't like it.  Does nothing to them but detours them.  That is why a full border. 

Dang Steve I'll have to try that

I usually dump manteca in the camp next to me and they swarm there!

I hear chicken wings work really well....especially when you put it under your buddies tent
  Cant really get rid of ants.....but a simple re-direction will do the job 

You could just buy an anteater for a pet.

I know you said you don't want to kill them, but I know something that will get them to detour away from your campsite.

http://www.amazon.com/Combat-Ant-Killing-Gel-27grams/dp/B000BQT5IG

This stuff is like ant crack.  Just apply a drop/strip anywhere near ants away from your campsite and they will be all over for hours and hours.  They just sit there like drones and feed on this gel.  Works better than candy or other foods. 

I would figure those perimeter control/home defense sprays should work, but I guess not.  Good to know for future camping trips.

Good luck.

Red ants were EVERYWHERE when I lived back in Florida.  They actually ate through my above ground pool to the point it looked like a yard sprinkler rather than a pool!

I live just a few miles up the hill from Millerton, the ants are just bad this year!  I use the Ortho home defence but it takes time to work.  Good luck

Sent from my DROID3 using Tapatalk 2

Used coffee grounds. Round the perimeter.
Maxwell House works best.

I know you said you don't want to kill them, but I know something that will get them to detour away from your campsite.

http://www.amazon.com/Combat-Ant-Killing-Gel-27grams/dp/B000BQT5IG

This stuff is like ant crack.  Just apply a drop/strip anywhere near ants away from your campsite and they will be all over for hours and hours.  They just sit there like drones and feed on this gel.  Works better than candy or other foods. 

I would figure those perimeter control/home defense sprays should work, but I guess not.  Good to know for future camping trips.

Good luck.

I 2nd the Combat ant gel. There's no shortage of ants...

Diatomaceous earth

Diatomaceous earth

+ 1.   Will kill most any insect if they come in contact with it.  I think it scratches their exoskeleton and causes them to dehydrate. 

Sounds like you use the gel to attract them to an area and them hit them with the DE. 


Eric Morgan
Trident Ultra 4.7
Not the guy selling the Outback
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

     I'm sure a ring of fire will stop them!