a fatty acid is a carboxylic acid with a long aliphatic tail ( chain ), which is either saturated or unsaturated . a monounsaturated oil is a chemical compound that contains a single carbon - carbon double bond , such as those found in alkenes . monounsaturated edible oils are non - toxic and considered a healthy oil alternative . oleic acid is a fatty acid that occurs naturally in various animal and vegetable fats and oils . oleic acid is classified as a monounsaturated omega - 9 fatty acid . the term “ oleic ” means related to , or derived from , oil or olive , the oil that is predominantly composed of oleic acid . thickening agents are additives which increase the viscosity of fluids . the mechanism of thickening can vary , and includes the flow - inhibiting properties of long polymers , high surface area material , high viscosity material or cross - linking agents . examples include but are not limited to copolymers of acrylic acid ( such as carbopol ™), natural gums , waxes , and polyacrylamide . examples of high surface area materials are fumed silica , precipitated silica and clays , and create thickening by restricting the flow properties of the fluid . clays can include but are not limited to montmorillonite , bentonite , kaolinite , fullers earth , or hectorite , an emulsifier , is a substance that increasing the stability of an intimate blend of two or more immiscible phases . emulsifiers are often also surfactants or “ surface active agents . the surfactants employed in this invention can be anionic , cationic , non - ionic or combinations of each . some examples of emulsifiers are cetearyl alcohol , polysorbate 20 , and ceteareth 20 . functional materials that may further be combined with the present inventive compositions include coloring agents and fragrance . additional functional materials include , but are not limited to , anti - microbial agents , anti - molding agents , odor absorbers , rheology modifiers , spoilage indicators , and flavorants . the functional materials may be present in any desirable weight percent with respect to the ant repelling composition . a wild bird nectar feeder is a device designed to dispense or display liquid food , giving access of the food to birds , especially hummingbirds and orioles . examples of nectar feeders are inverted feeders and saucer feeders . an inverted feeder has a central reservoir that is suspended over the feeding ports and releases nectar from above . the effects of vacuum keep the nectar from flowing freely out the ports , keeping the ports filled at optimum levels . inverted feeders can be top filling or bottom filling style . a saucer feeder is a simple dish filled with nectar that has ports above the reservoir , allowing birds to dip their bills into the nectar supply . a nectar feeder can be as simple as an inverted glass bottle with a tube at the bottom , or as complicated as a multiple feeding - port feeder . they all have in common a reservoir to hold the nectar , and feeding ports which restrict the free flow of the nectar out of the feeder while providing nectar access to the hummingbirds and orioles . a coloring agent may also be added to enhance the aesthetic nature of the ant blocking gel . however , a coloring agent is not necessary . coloring agents include , but are not limited to dyes , pigments , and polymeric colorants . non - limited examples of dyes include acid blue 9 dye , methylene blue , and wool violet . examples of pigment are hematite , cu - phthalocyanine or ultramarine blue . examples of polymeric colorants are various products under the liquitint ™ name produced by milliken chemical . suitable impermeable packaging means include , for example , but are not limited to containers of glass , plastic , foil , mylar , paper , waxed paper , and other materials known in the art for storing and dispensing liquid products . other suitable impermeable packaging means include but are not limited to containers or film composed of polyvinylchloride ( pvc ), cellulose , cellophane , vinyl , nylon , thermoplastics , silicones , polyethylene , polypropylene , or combinations thereof . suitable packaging means include , but are not limited to a syringe , a squeeze tube , a caulking gun , a paste dispenser , a can , a jar , a bottle , a spray bottle , a bag , a pouch , a packet , and combinations thereof . ten grams of fumed silica ( cab - o - sil , cabot corporation ) are blended together with 140 grams of oleic acid . the fumed silica possesses a high surface area , and the oleic acid is a low viscosity fluid , and as the particles are dispersed in the oil they inhibit the free - flow of the oil . simple mixing creates a thickening action that results in a clear gel . physical property testing reveals that the gel is shear - thinning , so it is easily applied , yet stays in place on surfaces . testing shows that the gel is heat stable , and does not melt or lose shape up to 210 degrees f . the gel is also water - resistant , and therefore can stand up to the heat and rain outdoors . the composition was tested via two applications methods on nectar feeders that had already been invaded by ants with a heavy ant trail : a ) applying a thin line of gel around a hook holding a feeder and b ) applying a thin line of gel on a pole supporting a feeder . application resulted in immediate blocking of the ants , and no ant ever crossed the line again . over time the gel thickens to become more waxy , but still repels ants . the repelling action of the composition and the protection of the feeders lasted for more than a year , exposed to rain , frost , and heat ( to 115 degrees f .). 0 . 1 pounds of fumed silica ( cab - o - sil , cabot corporation ) is blended together with 1 . 5 pounds of oleic acid , and 0 . 001 pounds of cinnamon oil as a fragrance . a portion of the blend is placed into a syringe . the syringe is compressed to emit a line of gel around a pole supporting a nectar feeder .
a natural non - toxic ant - repelling gel is created by combining certain fatty acids with a thickening agent . the gel has the surprising ability to be used safely around food , children and pets , because it is derived from an edible source . the gel is applied to permanently block or repel ants . since this is an oil - based gel composition , it is also long - lasting and water - proof , so it can be used outside . one particular use is to block the path of ants attempting to access a hummingbird feeder or nectar bird feeder .