When I woke up this morning to make my morning coffee I saw Ants crawling over my 6910. They were crawling out the gap at the front where the water bottle meets the frame. I opened the back and saw hundreds of Ants. I pulled out the water bottle and most of them were underneath it starting to make a nest. I wiped them all up as best I could. And rinsed out the water bottle. When I went to make a coffee the machine sounded different. Some higher pitched squeals and sounds. The coffee didn't taste quite right either. What do I do? I'm thinking of de-scaling when I get home to tonight but I haven't done it before. What's the best method if one doesn't have the cleaning tablets etc. do I also need to open the machine to check they are not in the electrics and mechanical parts?
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Ants are one of natures weather forecasters and will respond to imminent rain events as well as
prolonged periods of wet weather that might not start for some weeks.
Ants, like all organisms require water. In a prolonged dry spell like some parts of Australia are experiencing,
ants will be on the move in search of a drink!
Coffee machine=water and cover! Put some water dishes outside in a few places,
in a way that concrete or stone will become moist under the container and the ants can walk over the moisture.
It might reduce the invasion.Last edited by chokkidog; 11 February 2013, 11:15 AM.
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I use borax powder for ants around the home. Sprinkle some under your machine. You can add sugar to make it more attractive to ants and cockroaches. It is relatively harmless to us but can be an irritant. Keep it off your skin and don’t eat it. Keep it away from children and pets.
Barry
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Its funny you should say that. I was listening to 3AW this morning and a guy metioned that according to the long range weather forecast, rain is predicted at the end of the month.Originally posted by chokkidog View PostAnts are one of natures weather forecasters and will respond to imminent rain events as well as
prolonged periods of wet weather that might not start for some weeks.
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Thanks for this tip. I've had lots of ants lately and mixed a bit of Borax with some maple syrup (which the ants love), put in a bottle top and let them go nuts. Heaps of ants for the first 12 hours or so (but hardly any in my sugar etc) and after a couple of days there are almost none. Hopefully it will last!Originally posted by Barry_Duncan View PostI use borax powder for ants around the home. Sprinkle some under your machine. You can add sugar to make it more attractive to ants and cockroaches. It is relatively harmless to us but can be an irritant. Keep it off your skin and don’t eat it. Keep it away from children and pets.
Barry
Pete
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Long range forecast? When they perfect being consistent with tomorrow's forecast they might have some credibility longer term.Originally posted by raidi8 View PostIts funny you should say that. I was listening to 3AW this morning and a guy metioned that according to the long range weather forecast, rain is predicted at the end of the month.
Ants, of course, get their name from formicidae , and that smell you get when squashing (or brewing!) them is formic acid. May well be OK for descaling, lol
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For the lazy this is essentially what the commercial product Ant Rid is (though it's sugar water not maple syrup).Originally posted by Pete39 View PostThanks for this tip. I've had lots of ants lately and mixed a bit of Borax with some maple syrup (which the ants love), put in a bottle top and let them go nuts. Heaps of ants for the first 12 hours or so (but hardly any in my sugar etc) and after a couple of days there are almost none. Hopefully it will last!
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That's a good question! I really don't know. They kinda taste just the way you would expect brewed Ants to taste like. Just like the way they smell when you squish em.Originally posted by greengarden View PostGlad to hear your machine is back to normal. I too have ants all over the kitchen. So yuck.
How do you know what ants taste like?
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Where I live we have had every sort of ant imaginable over the 30 years that I have been here.
Ants are foragers and the weather makes no difference to them here. They are constantly looking for food.
We have tried all sorts of things to discourage them but they just keep on coming.
I just keep any eye out for them and kill as many as I can, which discourages them for a short while, then they are back.
You can expect to see them anywhere there is food. I am constantly killing them in the pantry.
I think they like to antagonise me.
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I would be hesitant to make drastic changes like descaling, I would assume the sounds come from the pump? Maybe just confirm the issue persists for a few days to start off?
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