Rambling about fire ants...

[Richard]

I went out to the mound that I had a hard time finding the other night. It does seem as though it's not there anymore. Then I noticed 30' away, right on the edge of the woods... another mound.

I don't know if they'd move like that but it sure seems to be what happened.

Today, I went to look closer... just had to take my foot and stomp it again although I know that was dumb. I just get a kick out of seeing them all angry and swarming up to someone who's not there (one stomp and before they react, I'm already 10' away)

They calmed down and I went to house and got the Amdro. Went back and sprinkled some around and on the nest. Was interesting watching them. It actually looked like some of the ants were carrying the Amdro granuals away from the mound...then I saw others carrying it inside.

I don't know what to make of the others going what seemed to be the wrong way.

I'm going to watch this mound so if/as it dies I can see how the dirt mound changes. I presume it won't look so 'manicured' once the ants die.

 

[EastTexFrank]

When the mound looks light and fluffy, it's active, and when it's more packed and chambers are open, it's dead. Yes, they'll move. You can spend all summer chasing them around your yard. The extension agent also told me that for every mound you see on surface, there's probably another for or five still underground, just waiting.

Sorry Eddie, boiling water doesn't work. I've tried it. It doesn't get deep enough into the mound to do any good. It does kill a bunch of them on surface and it's interesting to watch the dead ones being carried out and dumped but it doesn't get the queen. She's usually about two feet below ground. I had a friend who modified his steam cleaner by adding a three foot wand to the end of his hose, firing the boiler 'way, 'way up and pushing the wand down into the mound. He said it worked very well at getting the queen and killing off the mound. He said he was going to patent the idea and sell it but I guess the world just isn't ready for a $2,000 ant killer.

I've found that the baits work best. They take a little time to work but they do work and they keep the area clean for a little while. Sometimes I need a little faster gratification and use Sevin or Malathion, both of which work but if the mound is disturbed too much it will just force them to move, and then the chase is on.

 

[Bird]

A few years ago there were several places selling an injection device that was made to push down deep into the mounds and pump insecticide into them, but I don't recall seeing any in the last 5 or 6 years. Are they still around or not? And I poured liquid insecticide on a mound yesterday that my wife had found. That was the third one since the big rain 9 days ago.

 

[dmccarty]

My cousin and I use to light styrofoam on fire, stir the next and burn the little xxxxxes. Satisfying but did not make them move or go away. We also would put gas on the nest and light it. Again VERY satisfying but the nest would stay.

I HOPE the fire ants get lower the number of ticks and chiggers. At least I can see fire ant nests. We only get a respite from the ticks for a few months in the winter. Chiggers will be out in another 4-6 weeks. I don't go anywhere in the woods or grass without wearing chemicals to repel/kill ticks/chiggers this time of year.

At this point everyone in the family has had at least one tick bite and the season is young. I don't see how the deer can live with the number of ticks we have. The deer are all nested up having fawns right now. I looked at the woods with all of the brush and leaves and shudder at the thought of walking in there because of the ticks and chiggers.

Later,
Dan

 

[Richard]

boiling water doesn't work. I've tried it. It doesn't get deep enough into the mound to do any good. It does kill a bunch of them on surface and it's interesting to watch the dead ones being carried out and dumped but it doesn't get the queen. She's usually about two feet below ground.

Perhaps we need to add this to the long list of "what kind of stupid things do you do with your backhoe"

DIG that little b***h up and for fun, maybe take a match with an aerosol spray can (flamethrower) and shish-kabob her!!

 

[EddieWalker]

Here's a link to some work being done at the local Ag Extension office. Overton is just South East of Tyler and about 20 miles from where I live.

Texas A&M Agricultural Communications - AgNews - News by Date

Eddie

 

[sunspot]

Here's a link to some work being done at the local Ag Extension office. Overton is just South East of Tyler and about 20 miles from where I live.

Texas A&M Agricultural Communications - AgNews - News by Date

Eddie

Zombie Fire Ants, run awayyy. LOL.

I like to use the Orthone powder. It really works fast but it does stink like the devil. I ahd one mound that was over 2' high. Two tablespoons of the Orthene killed them all overnight.

 

[Bird]

Zombie Fire Ants, run awayyy. LOL.

I like to use the Orthone powder. It really works fast but it does stink like the devil. I ahd one mound that was over 2' high. Two tablespoons of the Orthene killed them all overnight.

Dana, I've never heard of a powder or bait that worked even close to that fast. I guess I need to buy some and try it. Is "Orthone" the correct spelling or is it "Orthene"?

 

[grunewald]

Orthene is the correct spelling. A light sprinkle is all it takes, following the directions and you will use it up too quick. It does work very fast, seen dead ants in 1 hour. I am impatient to wait a week with the baits, I want to see them die before my eyes.

 

[woodchuckc]

I can't tell that fire ants have any effect on tick or chigger populations. It's a bit too early for chigger season yet, but there are more ticks this year than I have ever experienced, and there are more fire ant mounds this spring around the house and in my fields than ever too.

I don't know if the ticks are getting immune to Frontline, but I am keeping my 3 dogs dosed up and I still have pulled dozens of ticks off of them so far this year.