I have killed huge fire ant mounds by using the used coffee grounds that Starbucks gives away for free. After experimenting with these used coffee grounds for 8 years, I have found all kinds of interesting uses for them. Mainly as a direct contact spray, I can take care of all the insects I have problems with, and I have 40,000 plants. I found that the coffee spray will not kill ants, but they ARE repelled by the used coffee grounds. This may take a little practice, but I take the used coffee grounds and mix them with enough water that they turn into mud. I put a thin layer of mud all over the mound, and I found out the trick is to cover another 4 inches farther than the mound because they try to tunnel out under the coffee mud. The only thing I can figure is that they refuse to dig through the coffee, and when they can't go out and feed the mound, the colony dies. One way or another, it kills the mounds. This is hard to do when you collect your own grounds, bit you can get so much at one time at Starbucks when you go at the right time of day. Sometimes, I have come away with about 60 pounds of used coffee grounds when I ask them for the bag they are filling behind the counter. On another note, try experimenting with coffee repelling ants and other insects. Like if you had a small garden, you could pour a barrier of grounds around the perimeter of the garden to keep them away. The barrier would also keep out mealy bugs, scales, aphids, and even spider mites. I never got to finish a formal experiment, but I would bet money that used coffee grounds would get rid of chinch bugs in the lawn as well.

Hoosiergirl... the molecule of borax or boric acid that kills insects is the boron molecule. It takes decades to degrade. Air moisture might cause clumping of the powder and unable to stick to the legs of insects crawling across it but it will remain active as a killing agent for decades. another user, for termites or ants... HOT water is used because boric acid has a low soluble point in water. Using hot water increases the amount that can be dissolved in water. The idea behind this is to dissolve as much boric acid in water as possible then water log the wood so it absorbs the boron molecules. So the insects that eat the wood also eat the poison. It is effective and treated wood you would buy at a store use that method along with pressing it more to make it harder and harder for insects to bite.

Although I have heard some wee bit about spraying a Boric Acid solution to keep ants away, and it might be somewhat effective while wet, when dry the ants would probably not pick any up and it would not be effective. I have heard of making a bait of molasses, usually black strap, with a small quantity of Boric Acid mixed in which then does poison the ants. The recipe I recall is 1 tablespoon Boric Acid in 1 cup of molasses and placed outside away from where the ants were gaining entry into the house. In the house Lemon Juice or Peppermint oil can be used to redirect the wee buggers back outside. Keep in mind that Boric Acid can be a poison in humans and pets so due care in use and storage is necessary.

Ants will kill plants a LOT faster if they bring boric acid into the container with them, I'm just glad I figured it out in time. Boric acid is the ingredient in some ant and roach baits that can be purchased commercially,so if you use such methods and the pest problem is taking up residence in your houseplants and you are unaware of this,they might end up poisoning your plants. Yaknow Purp,..that's one thing I don't miss about the south...no fire ants up here. The entire southeast is floating on a bed of 'em...like I need to tell you! HA! While down on the coast,I remember going to war with them and winning...well I chased 'em out of my area anyway. I poured boiling water in their nests until they ran for their lives. ...also not an option for removing them from plants. lol I've immersed the ficus recently enough,but it wasn't for anything near 24hrs. This is when I first found out that they were nesting in there because they came flooding out in numbers. Killed a bunch that day,but let's face it...until the queen is dead she'll just keep replacing the ones I kill. For now I'm putting up with ants running loose in my room. Hopefully when the weather warms up enough to drag the collection back outside,then I can get a bit more aggressive with them.