Ants!
Ants!
I was preparing for bed last night, and took out the humidifier tank to top it off. In it were perhaps a dozen ants!! Most drowned, one or two alive. How would they possibly get in there! This is the second time this has happened. Yuk!!
Has anyone else had this happen?
Has anyone else had this happen?
- NightMonkey
- Posts: 801
- Joined: Sat Jan 15, 2011 2:43 pm
- Location: Three seats, orchestra right
Re: Ants!
I ant believin' this.
NightMonkey
Blow my oropharynx!
the hairy, hairy gent who ran amok in Kent
Blow my oropharynx!
the hairy, hairy gent who ran amok in Kent
Re: Ants!
'tis true! The only way I can think of it happening is that they crawled into the mask, somehow got through that little flap that closes on exhale, and walked through the hose into the tank. There were some ants on the wall near where I hang the mask during the day, but I didn't see any in the hose.
TRUE!
TRUE!
- rested gal
- Posts: 12881
- Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2004 10:14 pm
- Location: Tennessee
Re: Ants!
Well, first I thought of this...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNgJBIx-hK8
Then this...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szL62FNNiBc
But it must have happened like this ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBTjQMtbViU
Or maybe like this...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A042J0IDQK4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNgJBIx-hK8
Then this...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szL62FNNiBc
But it must have happened like this ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBTjQMtbViU
Or maybe like this...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A042J0IDQK4
ResMed S9 VPAP Auto (ASV)
Humidifier: Integrated + Climate Control hose
Mask: Aeiomed Headrest (deconstructed, with homemade straps
3M painters tape over mouth
ALL LINKS by rested gal:
viewtopic.php?t=17435
Humidifier: Integrated + Climate Control hose
Mask: Aeiomed Headrest (deconstructed, with homemade straps
3M painters tape over mouth
ALL LINKS by rested gal:
viewtopic.php?t=17435
Re: Ants!
I'm glad you're all having fun with this, but it is icky!
Oh -- they were little ants. Does that mean carpenter ants?
Oh -- they were little ants. Does that mean carpenter ants?
- DreamDiver
- Posts: 3082
- Joined: Thu Oct 04, 2007 11:19 am
Re: Ants!
Carpenter ants are about a third of an inch to half an inch long, a little less than a centimeter.katcw wrote:I'm glad you're all having fun with this, but it is icky!
Oh -- they were little ants. Does that mean carpenter ants?
http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef603.asp
They eat wood, but are usually found in living trees. They can sometimes be found in homes. That's a bad thing. They end up killing the tree and move on. I remember them from a public garden where I once interned.
You don't have carpenter ants if they're the tiny black ones.
Ants like that often show up in homes for a couple of reasons:
1. Recent ground disturbance in your neighborhood or yard (garden culltivation, for instance)
2. Drought.
In most cases, it's just a game of patience. Find their entry route - usually a small space in a window, and paint that spot with a dab oil. (Peanut oil, olive oil, Vaseline.) It's probably not good for the finish on your window, but it's safer than a lot of the chemical products that are out there. That's what we've done successfully in the past.
_________________
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Re: Ants!
In your water tank, and your mask....yes that is icky.
DreamDriver, we had ants last summer, and I resorted to laying ant traps (the little boxes) at the entry point. I didn't know about using oil, that's a much better alternative.
DreamDriver, we had ants last summer, and I resorted to laying ant traps (the little boxes) at the entry point. I didn't know about using oil, that's a much better alternative.
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Additional Comments: Resmed AirCurve 10 ASV and Humidifier, Oscar for Mac |
KatieW
Re: Ants!
I just read a 'natural' way to handle ants is to put down a bit of cornmeal. They evidently eat this, but can't digest it so it kills them..... Haven't tried this, but it may be worth a shot. Better than chemicals.
Yes, that blue eyed beauty is my cat! He is a seal point, bi-color Ragdoll. I adopted him in '08 from folks who could no longer care for him. He is a joy and makes me smile each and every day.
Re: Ants!
The small tiny ants sound like sugar ants.
They are attracted to sugars/sweets and are usually found around areas where crumbs are left behind (quite often in the carpet).
A good cleaning around the area and in behind tables/night stands will help, but we have them here as well and I've found a few drops of a product called "Ant-B-Gon" works extremely well. You put a few drops near cracks (try watching to see where they come from or where they go) and they take this stuff back to their nest.
They are attracted to sugars/sweets and are usually found around areas where crumbs are left behind (quite often in the carpet).
A good cleaning around the area and in behind tables/night stands will help, but we have them here as well and I've found a few drops of a product called "Ant-B-Gon" works extremely well. You put a few drops near cracks (try watching to see where they come from or where they go) and they take this stuff back to their nest.
_________________
Mask: Wisp Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear - Fit Pack |
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control |
Additional Comments: Secondary Mask: Swift FX |
Re: Ants!
YES, I found ants in the short tube and hose - now I close all the holes (tube & hose) in the morning.katcw wrote:Has anyone else had this happen?
Best among people are those who benefit mankind
- chunkyfrog
- Posts: 34545
- Joined: Mon Jul 12, 2010 5:10 pm
- Location: Nowhere special--this year in particular.
Re: Ants!
I found a dead silverfish in my tank once;
and the window in my humidifier was fogged over most evenings;
I started taking the tank out during the day, and returning it, newly filled (and inspected/cleaned, at night.
I don't know how far into the works that condensation can go, (or little nasties)
but I'm not putting my precious Autoset in any danger.
--mmm, must have Precious, must keep her safe.
and the window in my humidifier was fogged over most evenings;
I started taking the tank out during the day, and returning it, newly filled (and inspected/cleaned, at night.
I don't know how far into the works that condensation can go, (or little nasties)
but I'm not putting my precious Autoset in any danger.
--mmm, must have Precious, must keep her safe.
_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 For Her Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear |
Additional Comments: Airsense 10 Autoset for Her |
Re: Ants!
Be careful. For some reason, fire ants seem to like electrical fields. Here in fire ant country, we're often finding fire ants in air conditioners and other electronics, shorting out or otherwise screwing up the equipment.
I don't know if it's unique to fire ants, but I'd be careful to keep the ants out of my CPAP machine.
I don't know if it's unique to fire ants, but I'd be careful to keep the ants out of my CPAP machine.
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Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control |
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Re: Ants!
RG, I think you have a link for everything.rested gal wrote:Well, first I thought of this...
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