I frequently re-warm partial cups of coffee, and I usually put a paper plate in the microwave as a 'catch-all' before using the oven. This time, when I put in the paper plate, I didn't notice that a Pharaoh Ant was hitch-hiking on it. I gave the cold coffee 22 seconds in this 1,200-watt oven, and when I opened the door to remove the coffee, that little ant was still very much alive, and running around on the plate as large as life. Go figure! The little bastards can survive microwaves for more than 22 seconds. No wonder it's so difficult to get rid of them if they're that tough.
However, even though baits and traps don't always work, because the ants are so small they walk right under them, and we aren't able to use insecticides around food preparation areas which those ants dearly love, there are other ways for us to fight back. The 99% pure isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) from the drug store in a sprayer bottle such as an old Windex bottle works on contact to zap the little buggers without making a huge mess of drapes or upholstery. If they're running around on your kitchen counters or other places where you can't safely use chemicals to zap them, you can get a roll of painters' tape or masking tape in the 2-inch width, and cut off short strips which you can use to slap an ant found where other methods shouldn't be used. When the tape gets used several times and begins to lose its stickiness, toss it and start a new one. This works on desks, computers, or anywhere you shouldn't use a spray. It's not maybe as effective as hitting the little bastards with a hammer, but your stuff will last longer.
And even though these ants are small, they can pack a punch beyond their size. They do have a stinger, and if they use it, it can result in a small welt or wart-like growth developing on your skin, which will survive treatments with iodine, etc., and persist for up to three years before finally fading away. And if you get one of those in an X-rated location, you will not enjoy it, trust me.
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