Why are there ants living in my computer & how can I get rid of them?

Question

The computer is right next to a window that we used to keep open all the time until ants moved in...the computer! They're nowhere else in our apt. Not in the kitchen or the trash or the pet food; just in the computer & now they've moved into my laptop. I've noticed them mostly in the keyboard & mouse of the desktop & of couse they're everywhere in the laptop. Nothing has ever been spilled on any component. What is it they're so attracted to & is there anything I can do that won't damage the computers? Some kind of spray? Or is the only option to take them apart & root the ants out one by one? My boyfriend built the desktop system & the laptop is a little older so there is no warranty information.

Answer 1

Don't kill the ants yet.  If you can do without the laptop for a couple days, I suggest you go to Home Depot, and buy some ant bait.  I think the one I bought was called Hot Shot. It's in a small rectangular red box about 3"x 6".  It cost like $1.50 when I bought it.  It comes with four small baits. Buy like 3 boxes.  Don't kill the ants with anything else.  Just put the baits around the laptop, around the window, outside the window, and acually all around your house, outside and inside.  But then you would have to buy a little more.  The ants will get some bait, and bring it back to the colony to feed their friends and of course, the Queen,  which you really need to get rid of.   That's the goal.  You can spend all your life spraying away ants, but you'll never stop them from coming if you can never kill the Queen or Queens.  Each colony has their own queen and every house has a few colonies in their yards. So, go for the Queen!

Answer 2

Use a mix of cinnamon and sugar at the window.  I would be surprised if there was a queen hanging out in your computer. The ants will pick up the sugar, along with the cinnamon, and take it back to their queen. Ants can’t digest cinnamon and once the queen dies from not being able to digest the cinnamon the colony will die without her.

Answer 3

There has to be something that fell in to the key board. Food, drink etc. there would be no other reason why you would have that. Get a can of air and blow everything out.

Answer 4

Shoot them out of there with compressed air.   There might be some crumbs stuck in there, and many insects are also attracted to electrical components because of the heat they provide.