Ants…

[S854]

On our property we have several of these hills… this one is roughly 24” diameter/ 10-12” tall…

That pic is kind of an optical illusion… looks sunk on top… it’s not…

I’m not sure what kind of ants they are, I’m not an entomologist… and it’s really hard to photograph a particular ant… basically, they’re black, always live in that kind of hill and there’s thousands of ‘em on top of the hill on a sunny day…

Most of the hills are a good distance from our house/barn/shed… we had one taking over the root of a lilac bush about 50’ from the house… dispensed with that one with powdered sugar/borax… that combo works surprisingly well…

This year it seems as though we have more hills than previous years… should we worry about them? Or are they a “beneficial” critter we should leave be…

 

[CH4Ohio]

Around here we use insecticide.

 

[CH4Ohio]

Never heard of a “beneficial” ant.

 

[MossRoad]

On our property we have several of these hills… this one is roughly 24” diameter/ 10-12” tall…View attachment 3419112

That pic is kind of an optical illusion… looks sunk on top… it’s not…

I’m not sure what kind of ants they are, I’m not an entomologist… and it’s really hard to photograph a particular ant… basically, they’re black, always live in that kind of hill and there’s thousands of ‘em on top of the hill on a sunny day…

Most of the hills are a good distance from our house/barn/shed… we had one taking over the root of a lilac bush about 50’ from the house… dispensed with that one with powdered sugar/borax… that combo works surprisingly well…

This year it seems as though we have more hills than previous years… should we worry about them? Or are they a “beneficial” critter we should leave be…

If they aren't near your house/structures, aren't causing any issues, etc... I'd just leave em alone. Like all creatures, they have a place in the ecosystem.

Pretty impressive mound.

 

[Torvy]

Never heard of a “beneficial” ant.

They are good for the soil. Some prey on critters that damage garden plants.

We have a lot of fire ants. As long as they aren't near the house or areas we walk, I let them be.

Lots of granular options will kill the mound quickly.

 

[Tinhack]

We used to have fire ants here. Godless creatures. Their sting worse than their name and they would gang up on you. Seems they had a signal or something to all sting at once. Then came the crazy ants that ran them all off. Now the crazy ants are gone and we have giant black ants that gather seeds and clippings. I don't know what they're called but they usually stay to themselves. If you happen to get one mad at you, they hang on with large pincers and sting. Feels like a wasp sting. Nothing kills them. They eat pesticide for breakfast and laugh at you.

 

[mrmikey]

I had a couple dozen of those in my back yard when I bought this place. I'd stir them up with a shovel, mix in some gas and oil mix and set it alight and while ti was burning continue to mix. Once it went out I'd add some ant bait and stir it up a bit more. That was 12-14 years ago and they never returned.

 

[MossRoad]

...They eat pesticide for breakfast and laugh at you.

The Keith Richards of ants.

 

[Jstpssng]

I had a couple dozen of those in my back yard when I bought this place. I'd stir them up with a shovel, mix in some gas and oil mix and set it alight and while ti was burning continue to mix. Once it went out I'd add some ant bait and stir it up a bit more. That was 12-14 years ago and they never returned.

"I know it's gas, and well; gas is gas. But it sure kills the @×÷= out of those ants!"

(Paraphrase of retired TBN member Thingy)

 

[newbury]

Aunts can be difficult to get out of the house.