Fire Ant invasion

[fossis]

The 'South American Fire Ant' has invaded this area with a vengeance.
They have ever so slowly 'crept' northward, & now one local county is threatning to 'quarintine' all products leaving this area, so as to slow the spread.
This summer I fought them hard, sometimes getting stung several times while just mowing the yard, (not stopping).
They get under anything that is left for just a few days, or build their mounds against bldgs, or just in an open place.
This is a pic of a mound along the highway,(about a foot high).

Fossis...............

 

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[Cannonman17]

scary- how do you fight them?

 

[stoney56]

Those things are mean. I was in Dallas last fall at a hunt, bent down to dig a signal, and got nailed 4 time before I could move my hand.

 

[CarolinaDigs]

Fossis we have these horrible ants also !! They can be deadly , as some people are highly allergic to them.

 

[fossis]

scary- how do you fight them?

The best way is to put a 'bait' on the mound, the workers then take it inside & feed the 'queen', that kills them off.
But I sometimes spray them with whatever i have on hand, & kick over the mounds.

Fossis..............

 

[fossis]

Those things are mean. I was in Dallas last fall at a hunt, bent down to dig a signal, and got nailed 4 time before I could move my hand.

If they keep moving North at this pace, you will probably be 'overrun' also.
The authorities are 'finally' getting concerned around here, they are 'studying it'.

Fossis................

 

[fossis]

Fossis we have these horrible ants also !! They can be deadly , as some people are highly allergic to them.

They also 'kill off' the native ants, & wreak havoc on birds that nest on the ground.
Fossis..............

 

[River Rat]

They already invaded us. No matter what you do you can't control them all. They're killers. I did read one thing listed in the County Agent's notes...wait till freezing weather & go out and dig up the nest/tunnels, exposing em will kill em. When they bite, they bite hard and will leave you with a itch and a horrible blister filled with "poison". I've seen them kill baby guineas trying to hatch...sting em to death. I've seen worse. These ants are horrible & devastating.

RR

 

[fossis]

They already invaded us. No matter what you do you can't control them all. They're killers. I did read one thing listed in the County Agent's notes...wait till freezing weather & go out and dig up the nest/tunnels, exposing em will kill em. When they bite, they bite hard and will leave you with a itch and a horrible blister filled with "poison". I've seen them kill baby guineas trying to hatch...sting em to death. I've seen worse. These ants are horrible & devastating.

RR

So true

Fossis.............

 

[Cannonman17]

Wow, I'm glad we don't have to deal with them up here! (yet) I know I would be waging war on them full time if they were in my neighborhood- wait until it's freezing out and go ant dig'n!!

 

[EDDE]

sound like a good little business to get into killing them off

 

[EDDE]

scary- how do you fight them?

The best way is to put a 'bait' on the mound, the workers then take it inside & feed the 'queen', that kills them off.
But I sometimes spray them with whatever i have on hand, & kick over the mounds.

Fossis..............

what about gun powder you know the rest

 

[fossis]

Wow, I'm glad we don't have to deal with them up here! (yet) I know I would be waging war on them full time if they were in my neighborhood- wait until it's freezing out and go ant dig'n!!

The 'cold weather' in your area might stop them from coming that far north, but who knows.

Fossis...............

 

[fossis]

sound like a good little business to get into killing them off

Good Idea EDDE, I may look into that.

Fossis.............

 

[fossis]

Way I have found to control them is to pour some gasoline very slowly thru the center of the mound..do not kick it they will hide the queen..usually they are gone the next day..good luck, I fight them every year
Don

The problem I have found, even after kicking, & spraying, the 'remnants' just move over a few feet & start to build again.
(I can't resist kicking it over).

Fossis..............

 

[River Rat]

If you want to know more about these nasty killers, read on... http://www.lapublichealth.org/vet/news/fireant.htm

 

[RON (PA)]

Has anyone tried a nicotine tea It used it when I had a garden and it worked great.

 

[fossis]

If you want to know more about these nasty killers, read on... http://www.lapublichealth.org/vet/news/fireant.htm

Good read RR, my son had them get into his 'heat pump' & put it out of action, they tried the 'imported flies' around here, no results of yet.

Fossis.............

 

[fossis]

Has anyone tried a nicotine tea It used it when I had a garden and it worked great.

How does the 'nicotine tea' work Ron?

Fossis..............

 

[godisnum1]

Just pour a thing of dry, uncooked grits onto the mound(s)... then the worker ants will eat them and take them back to the queen. Once they eat them and get a bit of water in their little bodies, the grits swell and kill 'em. Grit's are cheap... no southern family should be without 'em! ;-)

Bran <><