Lifespan of AN ANT? I'm serious.?

Question

My trash can outside has like a giant colony of ants going to it.

And it's irritating me, so until trash pickup thursday, I was thinking of putting the trash can in a bit thing of water.

Will the ants have died of old age in two days?

Answer 1

no ants live for like 2 weeks plus they multiply. hundreds are born every day.

here are some ways to get rid of them if u don't have ant killer.

ants hate hot water. i mean like really HOT poor a ton of hot water on them then poor freezing cold water on them like 5 minuets afterward.

bugs spray. like the off brand bug spray kills them.

SOAP. like that thick dish soap. if u put it in the hot water kills the ants in like a day. hope this helps.

Answer 2

regular water wont do it.

the best way to do it is boric acid mixed with sugar. they will carry the food to the whole colony then they will all die a horrible death!

Answer 3

Nope.  Some species have short life cycle other have long.  No ant has a two day life cycle.  There is no such thing as an average or common ant.  Each species, some 12000, is different and there are many specie.

http://zipcodezoo.com/key/formicidae_gen...

Answer 4

Everyone is giving you these long detailed answers, but it's a lot simpler than that.  If  you DO have a shallow tray large enough to put the trash can in, with at least 3" between the side of the trash can and the edge of the tray, that is all you need.  Fill this tray with water and the ants won't cross it in just a few days or even weeks if you keep the water in it.  Some ants will actually build a raft of their own bodies and float across, but this is not usual and I doubt you'll have that to concern you.  If you add a little oil to the water, you won't even have that to worry about.  Oil will kill ants quicker than anything.