[masraum]

Originally Posted by p911dad

I went out in the barn and the lights were out. I traced over to the GFI, lifted the cover and found many, many tiny ants swarming out of the GFI. (what the heck?) So I killed the power back at the house on that circuit and went back out with some ant spray and wiped them out. It appears they ruined the GFI, so off the Lowes for a new one. OK, easy enough- have any of y'all ever heard or seen something like this? That is the only place I could find any of these ants. There is no food, dog food or anything else to attract them, and no ant hills near the barn. Totally puzzled. Thanks

ants love warm enclosed spaces.

Many years ago, when I moved out of the dorms and into an apt, I bought a waterbed (cheapest bed that can be had). I had ants crawl up the wire to the heating pad and make a tiny little nest in the case around the electronics for the heater.

I've also found other similar (outdoor electronics) instances to what you describe over the years. Geckos and other bugs also like to inhabit electric boxes, I believe, because they are warm and protected.