Fire Ants

[TerriLaChicks]

A.T. Hagan :

Fire ants are ants. They're not native to the U.S. but they're ants just the same.

I've never had a problem with them with my tractors. I wouldn't pull one over the top of a mound but other than that I've never had a problem with them that way. It's my fixed hen yard that I have problems with them in, especially once the rainy season starts.

Diatomaceous earth can work to a certain extent on fire ants, but only to an extent. After the first rain or even heavy dew it loses effectiveness. I've tried it for the ants many times. April and May are the dryest months in Florida and that's when it's at its most effective. Come June and the start of the rainy season it's worthless. I do like it though for my feed room where it stays dry. I powder the floor with it then put my feed cans in.

Here is some info on them: http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/urban/ants/red_imported_fire_ant.htm

.....Alan.

Same experience here.​

 

[Boo-Boo's Mama]

For many years my husband delivered fuel to farmers/ranchers; had equipment failures due to the darn things. Seems the ants are drawn to electricity...one time he and another employee spent a whole day repairing electric pumps that filled their trucks because fire ants had gotten into it.

 

[Ms. Cluckingly]

We have them here in Colorado too. I've been told to take scalding water and pour in on their mounds... A LOT of scalding water, then RUN LIKE HECK!!

Last summer my Millie's didn't seem to have a problem with them.. but I am figuring we werent too close to a mound. However, this summer will be different, I'm sure. Best of luck to all us dealing with them!

 

[Boo-Boo's Mama]

Ms. Cluckingly :

We have them here in Colorado too. I've been told to take scalding water and pour in on their mounds... A LOT of scalding water, then RUN LIKE HECK!!

Last summer my Millie's didn't seem to have a problem with them.. but I am figuring we werent too close to a mound. However, this summer will be different, I'm sure. Best of luck to all us dealing with them!

A few years back we lived in Waxahachie, TX and had large mounds after each rain. I poured large pots of boiling water on the mounds...doesn't really kill many but they pick up and move. Don't care where they move to, just not my yard!

 

[Beekercat]

I hate the little devils! Every time I have used anything on their mounds, they just move to a new location. We were talking about these nasty creatures at work today and one of the true southerners told me that you can sprinkle uncooked grits - instant or regular - on the mounds and apparently they eat it...and then explode. I haven't tried it yet, but believe me I will!

 

[rancher hicks]

We get these "black'' ants in the house. I have a poison that I put on small pieces of card board. The ant's come and it's lookes like their having a picnic. Then they take the poison back to their nest and never come back. It's supposed to kill the whole nest of ants. Has anyone tried this?

 

[scrambledmess]

Most ant poison doesn't work on fire ants.. Fire Ants = The Devil! They are a main part of why I left Louisiana and moved back north.

I have no clue on the original question other then to wish you luck. I never heard of anything that worked with huge success.

 

[chickadeedeedee]

Fire ants are horrible!! Boiling water just gets the top layers so then they pick up the queens throne and move her about ten/15 feet to another spot. There are a couple poisons that work but I am skeptical about using poisons due to my "birds" (wild birds to chicks) and my dogs, not to mention our water table. But then on the other hand if thats the only thing that works, what do ya do? The scouters (fire ant scouters) I have seen crossing through my chick run and even seen my chicks snag them but its just one or two occassionally, I watch for them since we are prone to those demons here.

Between fire ants and mosquito's what could Texans wish for???

 

[Boo-Boo's Mama]

Quote:
This is one of those pass-along shams....does not work. Wish it did!

 

[Beekercat]

I'm bummed it doesn't work - I was looking forward to watching the little beasts explode.