Very interesting. I wonder if the sugar was what did them in, or if it was the enclosed conditions (I am assuming the jars were sealed). IF conditions were just so, the sugar may have become food to certain bacteria of fungi and begun to ferment...yielding alcohol and CO2...both of which would have killed insects in enclosed conditions. (Pure assumption on my part of coarse...I'd love to try this in the yard, though.)
The other reports said it was getting rid of them in the yard. Here's a few more quotes. I still need to try it myself! These are all from Gardenweb, I hope they were right!
"I saw a garden show that said they used dry mollasses on a 4 acre site that was full of fire ant beds everywhere and the next day they were all gone. They said it repells them and they move to another area."
"O.K. I tried the white sugar bit on the massive ant bed I have under my onions in my raised bed. Yesterday just sprinkling the sugar on the bed brought them out in droves all over everything. Today they are much much more sluggish and much less of them than before. I am shocked because I thought I would just have fat ants."
"White sugar works!!!! 3 days after I put it around my onions on a massive ant bed they are gone g-o-n-e- gone!!! No trace and I am shocked. Who'd of thunk it.....sugar of all things...thanks jackie."
"White sugar worked for me too, I poured about a cup over a 3'x2' area. It took about 3 days for them to go. I don't know if they died or just relocated... but they aren't in my veggie garden anymore!"
"Someone here posted to put a 5 gal bucket over the mound, let it build up inside, carefully remove the bucket and then drench with molasses. I had dh cut the bottom off a 5 gal bucket and am going to try that, with the lid on. Then I don't have to disturb them any by removing the bucket, just take off the lid & fill with the molasses stuff."