"Humane" Repellent For My Tarp

[knapsackker]

Let me start by saying I am very new to hammocking (started this March), and thus, I am also very new to this practice of camping. In order to prepare and get to know this wondrous world of hammocking, I've been setting it up, sleeping in it, and taking it down a few times a week in my backyard. Shug's videos have helped me tremendously, along with the nice folks at REI.

I've hit an issue. As the weather gets warmer and warmer in New York, it seems that more and more ants come out of their holes. These ants LOVE the only two trees I can hang from in my yard. They travel up/down the tree, along my tree strap, from the adjustable end to the fixed end of my whoopie sling, and allllllll the way across my tarp to the other side of my hammock. They then go up that whoopie sling, up the tree strap, and over to the tree on that opposing side. I'm pretty sure they switch direction at some point in the day, but I am too squeamish to observe... I only notice when checking on my hammock to see if they've started crawling on the hammock itself (I have only noticed one straggler, the poor guy). This pathway that the ants have intelligently created makes it incredibly difficult for me to take down my hammock, as well as get in it without getting ants on my back (when the tarp is pointed downward for rain).

Here is my dilemma: I have read about how reliable permethrin is, but I am determined to keep the ants safe, alive, and unharmed--I just want them to stop using my tarp as a crossing point. Does permethrin kill ants, or simply keep them away? I've read about "humane" repellents, but I'm afraid of damaging the tarp. I realllllly want to try lemon juice, but I'm sure that wouldn't be good. I'd assume I'd have to wash my entire setup after doing that, even if the juice doesn't "damage" the equipment (I assume it would damage it, though). I've tried spraying diluted peppermint essential oil, but they still tread onward. Same thing for dryer sheets--they climb over them. I'm here to ask for help. I'm looking for some humane suggestions. PLEASE: it is imperative that the ants remain unharmed with whatever repellent suggestion anyone has.

Thank you so much in advance. I really admire this community--it's filled with so much love. Peace, my hammock lovers.

[Tyroler Holzhacker]

Nuke them from orbit! Permethrin away my friend. Its either that or make peace with the bugs.

[michigandave]

A flamethrower would probably inflict more damage than necessary, so the old reliable Permethrin is probably the best option. Lots of threads on the subject here on HF.

[SilvrSurfr]

Permethrin will kill them dead. Good luck finding a "humane" way to repel ants.

[richtorfla]

I wonder if spraying citronella or eucalyptus oil would work for you. Might deter the ants.

[Stone Hall]

Cinnamon Essential Oil. My wife sells oils and I know this is a common use for that oil.


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[kitsapcowboy]

Nuke them from orbit!

(It's the only way to be sure... )

[WGoff]

Ants aren't human, so treating them humanely would be an oxymoron, or at least an obvious faux pas, no?

I vote the nuclear option....

[Biker Bob]

I've seen the buggers eat the inside of a tree. It fell on a camper with somebody inside. They have never worried about being humane to me.

Bob

[Wanderlost]

Permethrin really is your best bet. They outnumber you thousands to one. The other thing to keep in mind with ants is that they don't wander aimlessly. They follow a pheromone trail left by other ants. Just nuking the ants won't necessarily stop future venturers. Nuke them and wash the gear to get rid of the invisible trail markers.

The other thing you can do is get some tree wrap stuff. It's like a band around the tree that repels ants from climbing any higher. Then you only need to worry when they start to use your guy lines. If you block a path, ants are extremely smart and will always find another way.