Rewind June Meeting
Fire Ants: I hate 'em
While we wait on Roy Beckford's PPT presentation on fire ants, here are a few highlights that I noted:
The low-down:
- There are both native and imported fire ants in our area
- Some ants are vegetarian and some are not
- For every mound there are all sizes of fire ants, from large to small
- Fire ants first bite you to hold on then they sting you
- If using a drench, work from the outside IN instead of from the center out
- Ways to deal with them: drenches, dusts, injection, bait, FRY them with fire.
These are the things that Roy Beckford suggested that I noted:
- Windex® MIGHT work as defense if you spray it on yourself. This DID NOT WORK for me.
- Powdered TIDE® laundry detergent might kill ants. Please let me know if members find that this works because we make our own detergent.
- VERY HOT or boiling water. Pour in a circle from the OUTSIDE to the center.
- Hydramethylnon
is an organic control that is toxic to humans. Products that include
Hydramethylnon are commonly called Maxforce®, Combat®, Siege®, Amdro®,
and Sensible®. Read here for more information on this product: http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/hydragen.pdf
- ORGANIC ONE works when it contacts the ants. The
QUEEN must be exposed to the dust. It can a two person job: one person
digs while the other dusts (or you must be very coordinated and do
both). The ants die within minutes but if the QUEEN is not killed they
just start over again. ORGANIC ONE contains diatomaceous earth and
pyrethrin (made from chrysanthemums).
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