Best way to get ride of big ants?

[Bird]

Used to be old timers used something called 'high life' to kill red ants. Poured it down inside the hill and in a minute or so lit a match to it.

I've tried in recent years to find that "high life" with no luck. When I was a kid, we never lit it. Before the days of fire ants, we had the big red ants that made a gravelly looking mound with a single entry hole in the middle. All those ants would be inside right at noon for some reason. We'd just turn the bottle upside down stuck right in that entry hole, pour in the whole bottle, then throw one shovel full of dirt on the mound to plug the hole (I never heard of lighting it). But you could go back the next day and dig it up and find hundreds of dead ants, but never a single live one.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

I have 5 different spots on my acreage that have giant anthills. Any ideas?

Didn't read all 4 pages; but, there is a simple and cheap solution. I have fire ants throughout our 21 acres of forest. Buy a bag of diamatcious earth and spread liberally over the mound. In a few days the activity slows a bunch. As long as there is ants crawling keep the layer going. Rain/dew/high humidity will deplete or clump it so re-apply as necessary. Every time you see a mound forming get after it. It kills them by plugging up their elimination. Works on slugs too by absorbing their slime.

Ron

 

[k0ua]

I read on a gardening site last week, but am anxious to try it this summer...

The guy said empty two packets of Nutra-Sweet near the entrance of the hill. Within a couple of days, they are gone. I'm assuming he was speaking of a regular sized small ant hill. Guess you could grab a couple packs at Mickey D's to try it, and out nothing..., or if you already use it, a few more for a larger hill.

He went on to say that one company is buying Nutra-Sweet in bulk, and repackaging as ant killer... Take it for what it's worth...

I'm sure it will come up, if you Google, Nutra Sweet+ant killer.

I never use it, but if its true, I'm dang sure NOT going to..!!

Sorry the Nutra Sweet thing is apparently an urban legend. Ants like Nutra Sweet, and seem to thrive on it. Or so says Snopes.

James K0UA

 

[k0ua]

I've tried in recent years to find that "high life" with no luck. When I was a kid, we never lit it. Before the days of fire ants, we had the big red ants that made a gravelly looking mound with a single entry hole in the middle. All those ants would be inside right at noon for some reason. We'd just turn the bottle upside down stuck right in that entry hole, pour in the whole bottle, then throw one shovel full of dirt on the mound to plug the hole (I never heard of lighting it). But you could go back the next day and dig it up and find hundreds of dead ants, but never a single live one.

"high life" aka CarbonTetraCloride aka Carbon Tet. was banned in the US in 1970.. You don't want to expose Carbon Tet to high temps. as it can produce Phosgene gas, Not good.

James K0UA

 

[Bill 55]

Get a bag of Sevin and dust the outside of the mound liberally. They track it in and it kills them all

 

[CowboyRon]

Sprinkle some Copenhagen around the mound, and watch the ants carry it outside. Then just wait a little.
When the queen comes out to spit just step on her.
Haha
I told this to a lady at home depot and she wasn't very amused either.

 

[DJ54]

Sprinkle some Copenhagen around the mound, and watch the ants carry it outside. Then just wait a little.
When the queen comes out to spit just step on her.
Haha
I told this to a lady at home depot and she wasn't very amused either.

I liked it..., LOL...

 

[k0ua]

I thought it was pretty funny! I am still laughing.:laughing:

James K0UA

 

[CowboyRon]

I thought it was good at the time also. I just think she was mad, because she really believed it until the punch line.

 

[wcampbell47]

Down here in South Texas the mosquitoes are so big two can carry a grown man across the creek never to be heard from again. I spray for mosquitoes with Bifen/IT. Buy it in bulk, mix it with water and disperse it with a 3 point spray rig. Don't have any ants either.

Have used OverNOut dispersed with my fertilizer but like the Bifen better for controlling ants.

Before you get your panties in a wad - Bifen is a pyretheroid, if you will a synthetic pyrethrum. Pyrethrum is natural originating from the chrysanthemum family of flowers. Bifen/IT has a half life of 12 days. It's good for about 21 days if you don't have heavy rains.

Sorry - don't know of a one time treatment. If there was such a thing you probably would not be able to live there either.