Fun with ants

[bill_schubert]

A few of my playmates next to the trap we set up to feed them

They are fortunately self-constrained, so far, to the island in our kitchen.  Apparently they get enough food from what we leave them on the island they don't feel the need to go further.  I've been spraying them with a fairly safe ant spray (totally worthless method btw) and we had the anti-pest company come by and spray (also worthless) and leave a couple of bait traps my ants treated like a Parisian in a Disney restaurant, ie — with contempt.  

Turns out the first pest guy incorrectly identified the type of ant and, therefore, the type of food it liked.  These ants apparently prefer chrysanthemum based poison over borax based poison.  Croissants over potato rolls.  

But we tweaked the menu and they are no happily taking the new bait in their lunch boxes back to the queen: "see what we brought you??".  The rest is, as Bill says, silence.  It will take a while but this is the ticket.  I just have to be careful not to disturb their little pheromone trail back down the dishwasher alley and to the home.  

Today is doggy day at the Ranch so I'm soon off.  It is the first time it has been this hot (82 (27.7) degrees) and sunny so things will be different.  It is something I've been wondering about.  I'm trying to convince Dana to come along but am only halfway there so it likely will not happen.

Meanwhile Zoe is not feeling well (stomach) which is either a result of the allergy laden atmosphere here in central Texas (as Dana thinks) or a result of the rapamycin she's taking for the Dog Aging Study (as I fear just a tiny bit).  I think the former is way more likely.  In large doses her symptoms would be within reason but she's either on a very low dose or a placebo.  The low dose long term side effects have not been fully evaluated.  That is what we are doing.  So I'll report it if she doesn't eat by tomorrow and/or keeps up her current demeanor.  But I'm hoping she'll bounce back.  

Watching: The Fall (still) (because Serial Killers are fun compared to the news)

Reading: Leviathan Falls (still)

Listening to: John Mearsheimer talking about Ukraine et al way more interesting than it sounds

Listening to: The Snow Killer (because Serial Killers are fun compared to the news)

Comments

[one-raido.livejournal.com]

If you can find the video of Koslov /Dimitrov match yesterday in Acapulco, it was amazing. Kozlov was about to win the second set, after winning the first set, when he toppled over with leg cramps so bad his legs completely locked up. He went on to win the match.

[bill-schubert.livejournal.com]

Wow, I was able to find that point and the collapse. Amazing that he came back.

[one-raido.livejournal.com]

I know. I was watching it live and it was painful to watch. I kept saying, stop already, but he kept going.