Fire Ants

[speedwrench]

Is anyone having any success with fire ant control?
Been using acephate powder (Orthene) but it is not working any more.
Help, they're winning, the acephate is just moving them about 2'.

Thanks

Dave

 

[zoe'sdad]

Re: Fire Ants

Best thing to kill Fire Ants is gasoline. pour about a cup of it directly on the hill. No need to set it on fire. Kind of expensive but it works. Just don't let the EPA know I told ya!

 

[i386]

Re: Fire Ants

Take a shovel full of ant bed and drop it on a neighboring ant bet and they'll fight it out.

Seriously though. We tried the stinky powder stuff and it doesn't work that well on our Ga. fire ants. I have found a much better product. Go get the Spectracide ant stuff in the orange bag. It looks sorta like oatmeal and doesn't smell like much of anything. Just sprinkle that on the ant bed. Put some water on it or just poke it with a stick (the latter is what I do) to get 'em stirred up. They'll be dead before the sun comes up tomorrow. The bag is resealable. I just keep an old coffee cup in the bag to use as a scooper. If I see a new ant bed I go get my orange bag and that's the end of that. Good luck.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Fire Ants

We have had them real bad here in the last few summers.Ant hills 2 feet high!
The gasoline does not do much.
We tried some new granule stuff that you spread over the whole yard.
I;m thinking it was called over and out or something..I would have to go find the bag in the garage.
We have not had one ant hill all summer.
After years of trying to kill them finally something worked..

 

[_brad_]

Re: Fire Ants

I don't know how to get rid of them, but I have a question...

I have heard they hurt when they bite, true?

 

[speedwrench]

Re: Fire Ants

Yes, they hurt, then a blister comes up that takes about two weeks to heal. Plus you rarely get bit by one, usually a bunch all at once

And they like to get in electrical boxes, so its a constant battle to keep them out of well pump and AC condenser control boxes. In a wet peroid like it has been this summer, and in the fall, they will move up into the walls of buildings. They bring dirt up with them which creates a path for termites.
Unless you live where they are, it's hard to believe how bad the infestation actually is. In Jan. and Feb. when the stock has eaten the range down to where you can see, it's normal to have a fire ant bed 18" diameter, 6" high every 5-6 feet. I know that sounds high but the others on here that live with them will
back me up.

 

[rwise]

Re: Fire Ants

I have always used gas on ants, as above pour it down the hole and cover it! Do not set it on fire, that gets rid of the fuel! Got to be safer than all those pisions

 

[bjcsc]

Re: Fire Ants

I use Bayer Fire Ant Control. About a half teaspoon of powder kills an entire mound in a few hours. They do not come back either...

 

[JB]

Re: Fire Ants

I am sure some of the above work, Speedy.

I had a severe imported fire ant infestation here in the late 90s.

I used both LOGIC and GREEN LIGHT. Both worked well. The GREEN LIGHT was faster, but the LOGIC was more permanent.

I have had zero imported fire ants in the last few years.

 

[PondTunes]

Re: Fire Ants

What kind of sick person imports fire ants?

 

[luckyinkentucky]

Re: Fire Ants

How close is the hill to your house? My brother lives in Ft. Stewart, GA. I could tell you how he dealt with them.

 

[speedwrench]

Re: Fire Ants

"What kind of sick person imports fire ants?"

I don't know ether, but let me know when you find him!

Thanks JB, I'll give that a try. Amdro just makes the horny and acephate powder makes them hyper, so it's time for a change .

Dave

 

[ddennis]

Re: Fire Ants

I use over and out...it works great. I do it in the spring and towards the end of summer...

 

[luckyinkentucky]

Re: Fire Ants

You could douse the area in diesel fuel and burn them out. My brother uses another method, but I won't advertise that. I don't want to give anyone any ideas.

 

[CN Spots]

Re: Fire Ants

Boil a stockpot full of water and pour it on the mound. Instant results, no toxic residue, easily available and cheap.