Reader Comments: Tis the season to be....alert.

Tom Garrett 10 months, 3 weeks ago

I always enjoy it when someone comes on while we're talking about something and mentions something else. Sometimes the "something else" is more important than the original subject. And as often as not it's something practical, some small hint about something that's worth a million bucks.

I can't tell you how much I've learned that way. A LOT.

I was up at six this morning doing something which is a pain in the neck. As I worked slaughtering the enemy, it occurred to me that maybe some of you folks are an innocent about something as I used to be, so I decided to share a little practical knowledge.

Are you seeing an occasional stray ant in your house right now? Do you notice one every once in a while? Especially at this time of year?

It's a warning. Or it should be--so I learned a few years back.

Ants, especially the ones you hate--sugar ants--fly and mate before the monsoon season begins. Then they multiply--by the millions.

And when the first rains come? Even if they are off in the distance?

They send out scouts, just one or two innocent looking little guys (they're a little smaller than they are later). This goes on for as much as two weeks.

And then....

The minute it rains, or the humidity goes up again, here they come! Ant trails all over the place.

So what does this tell us?

Go buy ant spray. And every day. As early in the morning as in convenient. Get outside and look around. You'll find what I found this morning after seeing just one scout last night (the scouts often come at night)--about ten million ants in three trails, all headed for the house.

They didn't make it.

They won't make it each time they try if for the next few weeks.

But those innocent little guys you see? The ones who are all alone and look like they are so harmless they're hardly worth killing.

They're casing the joint!

Pat Randall 10 months, 3 weeks ago

I know you are talking about insects but have to tell you what I read or heard the other day and it may have been on here. With me who knows.

Someone said to put white vinigar in a spray bottle and use it to spray on small weeds. It would kill them and won't hurt you like Roundup weed spray does. Warned not to get it on your grass as it would kill it to.

Tom Garrett 10 months, 3 weeks ago

Did you try it?

Has anyone tried it?

I'd sure like to know.

Bernice Winandy 10 months, 3 weeks ago

Don't know about vinegar killing weeds, but I have been told that it will keep insects away. True or False. I really don't know.

Question: What is the difference between in laws and outlaws?

Answer: Outlaws are wanted.

Paul Woods 10 months, 3 weeks ago

Tom, my wife uses white vinegar as a weed killer, but Pat is correct, don't get it on your grass or other flora. It will kill almost everything that it comes in contact with. 1 problem (?) is that it doesn't last very long, usually only till the first rain after application. But it is cheaper that the commercial weed killers and as a rule wont hurt pets.

So if you don't mind your yard smelling like a salad for a little while, have at it.

And Tom, you might try sprinkling some cinnamon around, it seems to work for us. Also ants don't seem to like Taro much.

Pat Randall 10 months, 3 weeks ago

No Tom, I haven't tried it, but going to. Just paid a landscaper over $400, to do my yard. There may be 1000 sq. ft. and it is gravel. I can buy a lot of vinegar for that.

Tom Garrett 10 months, 3 weeks ago

Nice info, folks. Thanks.

Here's an odd bit of info. Because I'm a chemist I know that even though acetic acid (the acid in vinegar) is a listed as one of the weakest of the acids, it will give burn you worse than some of the stronger acids, such as hydrochloric acid, even at their full strength. (Which does NOT mean that full strength acids aren't dangerous!!) (It also does NOT mean that vinegar is any more dangerous than you thought it was.)

Bernice Winandy 10 months, 2 weeks ago

OK I will give vinegar a try. I assume you use it full strength,.

Pat Randall 10 months, 2 weeks ago

Bernice, it has to be white (clear) vinegar. It also cleans corrosion off faucets. Just spray it on and leave for awhile then wipe it off.

Tom Garrett 10 months, 2 weeks ago

"Bernice, it has to be white (clear) vinegar."

Pat, I would imagine that any vinegar would work if its the acetic acid which does the trick. The only difference is what the vinegar is made of. But they cost about the same, so why not use white vinegar?

"It also cleans corrosion off faucets."

I think you mean the crust that comes from this hard water. That, too, would be the acetic acid working. Nice idea. A lot safer than any of the other things people use. Most of those have hydrochloric acid in them, which is dangerous.

Here's something to think about: Take one of your oral medications and look at its chemical name. Want to be that at least half the medications you use end in (you name it) hydrochoride?

Can you guess why?

Medications do you no good unless they can be dissolved in your stomach or nasal fluids, where their absorption begins. But most medications are organic compounds, and aren't soluble in anything. So they react them in some way with a chloride compound to form something with a hydrochloride ending, which they then call a "salt."

Why?

Simple rule of chemistry. ALL chlorides are soluble.

Here are just a few common medications which are hydrochlorides.

Zoloft (Sertraline Hydrochloride) Loperamide (Loperamide Hydrochloride) Unisom (Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride) Lotrimin (Butenafine Hydrochloride) Perrigo (Cetirizine Hydrochloride) Nasal sprays (Oxymetazoline Hydrochloride) Glucosamine (Glucosamine Hydrochloride)

Now that you know all that, so what?

Beats me. Just interesting.