Peppermint seems to deter most things. Yesterday got real hot here. I thought I was going to check out the fluids in the snow plow truck, but there was an orange sized next in the same corner of the hood as the brake master cylinder, go figure. They were very nice and didn't sting me as they roared out past my face.
So, I moved on, no truck work, but they were flying out of a hole up high by the garage door, they were all over the place and at this point, they're not going to forage as much as moving in for winter. So I decided, nah, I really don't want you to move in, so I mixed up some Dr.Bronners Peppermint soap with a few drops of Peppermint essential oil, and I shot it up into the hole they were flying in and out of, soaked the wood real well and the whole rest of the day, not one in sight. Meaning they went somewhere else, cannot handle the smell of peppermint, meaning they won't come out as much in the spring.
Ants, which we get in our house sometimes, the really tiny ones that invade your kitchen, or the big ones that make antpiles out in the yard are dealt with differently.
You need Borax and honey or other liquid sweetener. You mix a little sweetener with Borax powder into tiny little chunks, and let them have it. Don't crush them in your house if you can resist the temptation, I've heard hat sends out a signal for them to swarm.
Eventually these hard working little buggers with take the Borax back to the queen that's laying eggs and the problem will go away, every time this has worked. Got all ants to move on this way.
Not sure what to do about the reaction to ant sting, it's an immune thing. Avoid stings. Reactions typically just get worse and worse.
Peppermint Dr. Bronners solution will of course kill them by drowning, any soap will by breaking the surface tension of the water and getting into their lungs, but Peppermint is neurotoxic to bugs.
You can also deter or detour bugs from your place by spraying around your house, sheds, etc.
My kid lives in a brick house in town that's just lousy with spiders, Hobo spiders can have a real bad bite and with the 3yr old grandbaby she gets the place sprayed and it worked. But then it stops working. I'm talking her into buying the stuff and a sprayer herself. Essentria 3, you can get it all over the place, as well as decent sprayers.
This stuff won't hurt people, pets, most importantly little kids.
Pray, and Spray ;]]
