10 replies to this topic

[nofuel11]

First a warning: I might just be very dumb and this stuff won't work at all for ants. Posting to find out.

 

I have this dry teflon bicycle chain lubricant . The link takes you to the Amazon listing, 2oz for $6. 

 

Is this the same thing as the expensive fluon/PTFE ant escape barrier bottles that are sold for ants? The active ingredient for the chain lubricant is is listed as "teflon fluoropolymer" and my amateur Google search is suggesting that PTFE = basically teflon = basically fluoropolymer = basically fluon. Anyone more informed in chemistry, please let me know if I'm on the right track.

 

If this indeed is the same thing as the PTFE ant barrier stuff, then it is a way cheaper source. Again,  2oz for $6. Here are a few examples of ant supply sellers fluon prices. I know some of these sellers are active posters on this forum, and I don't know how the politics on this forum work, so I'll censor the sellers' names just to avoid any weirdness. 

• Seller A: 1.3oz for $45
• Seller B: 2oz for $30
• Seller C: 1oz for $20

[VenomousBeast]

Yeah, it's pretty much the same thing, just re-advertised. If you got to this link, it'll take you to the Safety information of Dry chain Lube: https://www.google.c...cug-nnBizvorvDV

Basically, what could be a lung irritant for us, normally poses no problems for ants since they don't have lungs and don't breathe the way we do. On top of that, the chemical makeup is the exact same as what is commonly sold. It'd just watch for additives such as petroleum.

[Talabason]

I see alot of commercial lubricant ptfe type of products? Are they all the same and can they work with ants?

https://www.amazon.c...tf_m&th=1&psc=1

[aznphenom]

PTFE is a generic lubricant. Companies just mix it without stuff based on their need. I think pfte for ant keeping are suspended in water? and there's probably the perfect ratio of ptfe to water that maximize its effectiveness. You can definitely buy PTFE powder and make the mix yourself. I am a talcum powder person myself. NOTHING can walk on talcum.

[Manitobant]

I thought i heard that the bike lube variant is toxic to ants but i may be wrong

[nofuel11]

Thanks yall. I think I'm going to try it. But not on a whole colony yet. I'm going to take one of my camponotus workers to use as a guinea pig and put it in a plastic up with this chain lubricant to see if the worker gets harmed. I'll try to leave the worker in there a couple days. I'll post a reply to update the results afterwards.

[Talabason]

Just try it with some common ants like Camponotus, lasius and tetramorium

[Lazarus]

Thanks yall. I think I'm going to try it. But not on a whole colony yet. I'm going to take one of my camponotus workers to use as a guinea pig and put it in a plastic up with this chain lubricant to see if the worker gets harmed. I'll try to leave the worker in there a couple days. I'll post a reply to update the results afterwards.

Be sure to let us know the results.

[dspdrew]

Just try it with Argentine ants. That way if it kills the ants it's still something to celebrate.

[bmb1bee]

Just try it with Argentine ants. That way if it kills the ants it's still something to celebrate.

I second this.

[gs5248]

Any results? I've been looking for something like this.