I need a surface that insects like ants can not climb.
Usually teflon (PTFE) should work. Often the "liquid version" is used which is called fluon (see e.g. here: www.bioquip.com/search/DispProduct.asp?pid=2871A), since you can apply it on other materials then.
Prof. M. Gokuldas Calicut University, India.
I am not sure about ants, but I used to apply (a thin smear) half an inch wide band of petroleum jelly on the inner side at the top (one inch below the brim) of glass beakers to make insects slip down when they try to climb, for insects such as Iphita limbata (a polyphagous plant bug). Pl try.
Talkum powder is used upon any surface they should not climb, I've seen that in Brussels Free University (Belgium) in experiences of M. Cammaerts and it worked well.
Fluon/teflon works fine.
It could be toxic to some ant species, so should be used in moderation.
It is not permanent. Ants find a way around the FLuon layer in a few weeks. You will have to monitor the colonies and the boxes, and as soon as you see the ants starting to climb out, that's the time for a re-application of Fluon.
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