Discussion: sturdier defense

The best defense is a good offense (as they say). I can lend you my can of Raid.

We had them in the kitchen this year. Fortunately, they are gone now. However, when we tried spraying around their entrance spots, they seemed oblivious.

Mutant ants? Raid has worked for me every time, as long as I spray it widely enough to not just shift where they are coming in.

The big ones, carpenter ants, died readily with spraying. But little success with the small ones. They came out from the same place after spraying. However, I was reluctant to spray everywhere in the kitchen since food is prepared there.

I tried to foil moths (different than ants, but it's still unnerving to find a moth larva crawling around in your cereal...) by keeping all food not in the fridge in a glass jar. This might have worked, if not for Ed, who doesn't believe in that system, and thus doesn't follow it. Hmph.

Think I'm going to try glass jar route, particularly if the micro version is impervious to Raid... they must disappear if there isn't food for them to eat! (It's a bit bizarre what they do and don't eat- love cereal, but not plain white flour, which is right next door, undefended and they don't touch the stuff!)

Just be sure you get something with a good seal on top. They had no problem getting into a covered sugar bowl, must be gaps, but didn't get into a metal one with a tighter seal.
I've read that you can kill moth larva by putting food in the freezer for 3 days. Some foods from the store already have the larva, but other than putting some rice in the frig, I haven't tried it.

For the little ants, get Terro Ant Killer. Put a small square with a drop of the stuff along their path and wait. The sweet bait will attract them to take back to the nest. After a few days, will be gone. Pure magic. Only thing we have found for the little ants.

For the moths, we use a Safer trap for pantry moths. Collects the moths and reduces the problem.

Terro Ant Killer sounds great. Will I be able to remember that when the ants are back next summer?

That's what AP is for.

Woo! New methods, although I also dislike chemicals in the kitchen unless really dire straits... will try the glass first, Terro stuff if still a prob

Terro is good as it's not a spray or general thing but a specific spot. Let the ants come get it.

We use the moth traps, and put food in glass containers. Plastic snap lid stuff would work too, but, personally, I think there is too much plastic in the world, and I really don't want any more of it in my food, nor in me.
Never had the little ants, but isn't boric acid the old time remedy?

Another recommendation for the little baits for the little ants. It's kind of gross how they all go there and die, but better than eating them accidentally in your cereal.