fire ants

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Countryside : One Thread

How can I get rid of fire ants, in my raised beds without harming my soil? Or do I have to dump out the soil in the beds and start over?

-- ruby (rubyfmc@cs.com), April 14, 2002

Answers

torch the buggers

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.coms), April 14, 2002.

Boiling water will encourage them to move on.

You can use a mixture of water, orange oil, molasses. I will see is I can find a website with proportions for the mix.

-- Rose (open_rose@hotmail.com), April 14, 2002.


http://www.ghorganics.com/page11.html

http://www.antcolony.org/fire_ants.htm

-- Rose (open_rose@hotmail.com), April 14, 2002.


I have used a small amount of diazinon 5% bait in beds where organics is not an issue. In organic beds I instigate colony wars by mixing members of two colonies. It is effective, but usually requires multiple mixings over a few days to kill both colonies.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), April 14, 2002.

Ether, or starting fluid. They are both non toxic and kill the entire colony in seconds. Sometimes you need to spray more than once to kill the larvae that emerge several days later.

-- Joel Rosen (JoelnBecky@webtv.net), April 14, 2002.


GUINEA FOWL Try www.guineafowl.com/fritsfarm/

-- Vince (Usjersey2002@hotmail.com), April 14, 2002.

I've moved whole hills by pouring instant grits all over it and next day pour boiling water into nest. It seems to work well and is safe for plants.

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), April 14, 2002.

http://www.dirtdoctor.com/ This is the site that has the fire ant killer for organic beds.

-- Jodie in TX (stanchnmotion@yahoo.com), April 14, 2002.

~ruby, tried this & it works -very well! Not envivementally harmful either... Mix powdered sugar with biodegradable powdered laundry detergent bout half&half. Sprinkle it around the entrances to their hill where they must traverse it to get in or out. Although it dont work quickly, it is permanent! It causes the reproductive cycle to be stopped, not from them intentionally/instinctively eating the mix, but rather by small amounts ingested from grooming themselves & each-other. It only takes bout a week for those living to `burn-out` to where thet are rarerly seen until they die & no replacements in production soon eliminates this hill - - - 4ever near as I can tell..

-- Re Load (privacy@not-real.net), April 18, 2002.

Moderation questions? read the FAQ