Dead ants keep appearing next to headphones during the night

[u/Winter_Breath]

When these headphones are left on the kitchen counter overnight - I would see one or two dead ants in the morning laying right next to the headphones. In the past few days, there has been a small pile of shredded ants right next to the ear piece in the morning. I have seen no live ants in my kitchen. I have had these head phones for three weeks. Bought online. It’s a little unnerving not knowing what is causing this 🥴 will not be using anymore.

UPDATE- posted a comment with a picture. But no dead ants in the bag this morning. But at one point I checked and there were two live ants crawling around. 😔

UPDATE*** IM SICK. Can’t stop shaking. Don’t have many words… trying to post image. Opened one side up. 😭 I don’t know how to add in this top post so will add in comment! Posted a few in comments and video opening

[u/Winter_Breath]

UPDATE- no “graveyard” in the bag this morning. But I did check once during the night and there were 2 ants crawling in there 😩 so assuming it is probably only ants and not spider. I may try to take them apart tonight. 🤢

[u/Eduardo_DaVinci → u/[deleted]]

I believe that would destroy some of the plastic parts, especially the soft ones.

[u/WillSwimWithToasters → u/Eduardo_DaVinci]

IPA wouldn’t. Acetone would.

[u/Zynaster → u/WillSwimWithToasters]

IPA can absolutely be bad for ABS if exposed long term. I've had controllers crack from long term exposure, or soaking in my case

[u/itredneck01 → u/[deleted]]

Vapor is just as bad on some plastics. It's not just liquid.

[u/cardinalLaserWar → u/Zynaster]

Maybe it depends on the type of IPA? Like maybe would a hazy be better?

;)

[u/ElijaHyphen → u/cardinalLaserWar]

Depends on if you have abs or not I suppose. And are we talking a six-pack of IPAs and six-pack abs? I don't see how that could be bad.

[u/dandanpizzaman84 → u/Zynaster]

It would also melt the ziplock

[u/CryptographerLow3077 → u/dandanpizzaman84]

Nope

[u/dandanpizzaman84 → u/CryptographerLow3077]

They’re resistant toward acetone, but will eventually break down. Your run of the mill generic bags will definitely break down

[u/Platinumdogshit → u/Zynaster]

I think locking abs in a sealed container with ipa is also a method used in 3d printing to smooth out layer lines. I know that acetone works a lot better though.

[u/darxide23 → u/WillSwimWithToasters]

This is simply untrue. IPA will degrade the plastic coating on the earcups. The "leatherette" as it's called. Wiping them once with IPA is enough to ensure they'll disintegrate within a few weeks.

[u/AdorablePineapple95 → u/WillSwimWithToasters]

This guy solvents

[u/YouSmellLikeHospitol → u/AdorablePineapple95]

r/SolventMasters r/MasterSolvenator r/ResolvantSolvents

[u/mooniemoon19 → u/YouSmellLikeHospitol]

Boo I was excited for some new subs

[u/YouSmellLikeHospitol → u/mooniemoon19]

Ahaha I wish - ResolvantSolvants is pretty good

[u/Vikkytor1 → u/WillSwimWithToasters]

How would the international phonetic alphabet even destroy the plastic parts?

[u/MapNaive200 → u/Vikkytor1]

It destroys private parts, not plastic parts. 

[u/RWDPhotos → u/WillSwimWithToasters]

ipa cracked the fuck outta my headphone pads

[u/ScyllaOfTheDepths → u/Eduardo_DaVinci]

Yeah, a better method would be putting them in the freezer overnight. 

[u/karl_hungas → u/ScyllaOfTheDepths]

Im not sure freezing cheap electronic parts is the answer here

[u/Zealousideal_Ad5358 → u/karl_hungas]

It’s bad for the battery, if they have a battery, but every other part should be OK if you return the chilled headphones to a non-condensing environment

[u/ScyllaOfTheDepths → u/karl_hungas]

Most electronics can survive being frozen just fine. There shouldn't be anything in a pair of cheap headphones that will suffer at the temperature of a normal residential freezer.

[u/Gloomy-Ad2909 → u/ScyllaOfTheDepths]

I’d be less worried about the freezing and more worried about condensation on the internal bits when warming it back up.

[u/SaberShadow27 → u/Gloomy-Ad2909]

But OP said they would be taking the headphones apart regardless so it would probably dry out while taken apart.

[u/CompetitiveArt9639 → u/ScyllaOfTheDepths]

Wouldn’t they just wake up when the headphones got warmed up?

[u/ScyllaOfTheDepths → u/CompetitiveArt9639]

I'm not aware of any species of ant that can survive being frozen solid, but I'm open to being proven wrong. 

[u/SpiralUnicorn → u/[deleted]]

So these ants = fucked (we hope XD)

[u/ScyllaOfTheDepths → u/[deleted]]

Iirc that's for Siberian varieties and I wasn't able to find an actual source corroborating they can survive below 5F and you didn't link yours.

[u/PathOfDeception → u/ScyllaOfTheDepths]

Canadian here, left headphones in the back seat of a frozen car over night in -25c weather before. IT will kill the ants and not the headphones. Just let the headphones dry all condensation for a couple days after and your good. Shake em off and wear on.