Why are ants now invading my mailbox?

[kick-ass-bob]

I opened it, and the entire inside was black with ants - and then I saw the white stuff too - great - baby ants.

Why the hell are they in my mailbox?

And don't say, "at least they are not in your house," because they are there as well.
:grr:

[Misunderestimator]

1. Better than wasps.

[kick-ass-bob]

6. true. but at least with wasps, I can spray the nest and they don't

come back.

We sprayed the ants, and the next day they were there again! :wtf:

[Midlodemocrat]

2. It is because you are so sugary sweet.

[kick-ass-bob]

7. *SNARF*

you made me spit some soy nuts out!
:spray:

[underpants]

3. They are trying desperately trying to get out of North Carolina

Who wouldn't?

[Midlodemocrat]

5. Yeah, and head to Virginia? No, I didn't think so.

[kick-ass-bob]

8. I was actually trying to mail them to you.

you bastard.

:P

[underpants]

4. Mail box or Malebox

this could make a lot of difference in the answer.

[Shell Beau]

9. That happened to me last year.

I was worried that the mail man wouldn't deliver the mail b/c there was so many. My husband said they were termites, but I think they were wood ants that don't bite or anything. My husband sprayed down the mailbox with something and they were gone just as mysteriously as they appeared.

[kick-ass-bob]

10. we sprayed it with the ant trail stuff

that worked so well other places around the house (it lasts about a month - so no ant trails) and the next day they were back.

These were definitely ants. Little fuckers started crawling on me when I got yesterdays mail out.

[Shell Beau]

11. I think mine were definitely ants too.

I don't know what my husband used to spray on them though. It worked and they never came back. It was thousands of them, too. Is your mail still being delivered?

[kick-ass-bob]

12. The first day we found them, we left a note to deliver it to the door.

Yesterday, it wasn't as bad (only hundreds) - but they were coming back - it wasn't the survivors.

The first day was thousands also. The whole inside of the standard sized mailbox was black.

We'll see what today brings.

[Shell Beau]

14. They may be carpenter ants. I think that is what mine were.

http://www.paulreverevillage.com/carpenter_ants.htm

http://www.bugclinic.com/carpenterant.htm

[matcom]

13. could it be the melted Snickers Bar you left in there for a week?

:shrug:

[kick-ass-bob]

16. why would I let a Snickers melt?

:9

That makes no sense to me at all....

:9

[WildClarySage]

15. Did someone mail you a picnic?

:)

[kick-ass-bob]

17. Yeah, but what does that have to do with this?

;)

:hi:

[WildClarySage]

19. Ants like picnics.

Uncles, however, often prefer a more formal sit-down dining experience.

[BikeWriter]

18. Since they moved their young there...

they were trying to protect them from something. They may have felt a hard rain was coming. Most any bug spray will run them off.

[CornField]

20. How wet is the ground?

Maybe there is a gully-washer in your future. Ants are pretty intuitive about such things and will hunt out spaces they think can protect the colony from such a disaster.

[kick-ass-bob]

21. it's not that wet, but you know what - I did pull up a whole bunch

of weeds from around that area. I didn't see any ant colonies, but maybe I disturbed them enough to send them seeking new shelter.

I swear, you try to clean up the yard, and all it does is cause more problems.

:eyes:

[NV Whino]

22. If they are black

and husky looking fellows, they are probably carpenter ants. Do not pass go, do not collect $200. Call an exterminator. Nasty little buggers and this seems to be the year of the carpenter ant.

(Piles of sawdust are the clue.)

[kick-ass-bob]

23. actually they are tiny ants.

I could fit about 10 of them on my pinky fingernail.

Carpenters aren't that small, are they?

[Shell Beau]

24. They can be. Especially if they are the young.

Like Bikewriter said, they may have been moved and your mailbox provided them shelter. Mine were tiny too!

[NV Whino]

26. You are seeing the young ones from the nest

The full-sized ants are what I call the ants' ant. Handsome critters, but very destructive.

[woo me with science]

25. free samples? nt

[Whoa_Nelly]

27. Maybe you could bug bomb your box

(:rofl: this subject line alone places my mind in the gutter with possible responses :rofl:)

But, seriously...could you possibly tarp your mailbox in plastic and set off a bug bomb? Or at least spray heavily under the tarp. then, wait about 4-6 hours and use a pressure washer to clean off the insecticide residue, wash with soapy water to make sure it's clean, and rinse again. Afterward, place ant stakes around base of mailbox

Dunno if this would work as have never had a problem such as yours. At the very least, hope the critters move on and away from your residence.

Good luck!