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Fire Ant Problems? - 5/30/2008 3:14:08 PM
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Coffee_Drinker
Posts: 109
Joined: 5/20/2008
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Nasty little creatures. Even harder to get rid of. All those bug killers, poisons, etc... Makes you wonder which is worse. Wife and I lived in the Lone Star State for several years several years ago (make sense?). Were introduced to these small bugs with a big bite the hard way - actually, they introduced themselves to us one day while we doing some gardening. Thank the Lord we were not allergic to them. That would have been a real problem.
Anyway... I have a tendency to ramble, and ramble, and...  No... I'm not selling anything either.
We used to have a neighbor who was a manger for a big (nationwide) pest control company. He told me the best thing to use is a 10% bleach/water solution (10% bleach & 90% water). Make one gallon (approx) in a bucket. Then pour away from ant hole first and in a circular rotation work your way to the hole itself pouring slowly about the last 1/2 gallion into the hole. You will eliminate almost the entire nest doing that.
Another bad thing about Fire Ants is they can move their entire nest in an evening. I'm talking about millions of the nasty little boogers. So, that means, you can have another nest come in your yard overnight. Plus they will take over an old abondoned nest (industrious eh!). Anyway, just do it again with the bleach water. As an added bonus... it won't kill your grass!
I also tried this 10% bleach/water solution as an outdoor insecticide. It works! However, some flowering plants do not like the stuff and will rapidly wither and die (like hydrangias). But, it sure does a number on bugs. I limit it to window sills, doors, nooks and cranies now. Do not use it indoors for obvious reasons.
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Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
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RE: Fire Ant Problems? - 5/30/2008 3:23:05 PM
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Tinkerbell_
Posts: 8641
Joined: 1/25/2008
From: NeverNeverLand
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Liquid dish soap works the same way.
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RE: Fire Ant Problems? - 5/30/2008 3:37:52 PM
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Coffee_Drinker
Posts: 109
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Tinkerbell_
Liquid dish soap works the same way.
Yes! Good stuff! Wife uses that on her Snowballs and Hydrangias. I use it in the yard for the grass.
Any idea how to get rid of a mole?
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Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
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RE: Fire Ant Problems? - 5/30/2008 3:53:13 PM
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GrahamCracker
Posts: 1758
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From: Dallas, TX
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Has anyone tried diamtomaceous earth? There are limitations, of course. It is useless when wet but I would think that they would not perceive it as deadly. And it probably wouldn't get deep into the mound.
I just wonder if anyone has determined its effectiveness.
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Larry
Sure we're under the law, everybody knows that!
When He said, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear. (Heb 10:13)
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RE: Fire Ant Problems? - 5/30/2008 3:59:02 PM
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Coffee_Drinker
Posts: 109
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quote:
ORIGINAL: GrahamCracker
Has anyone tried diamtomaceous earth? There are limitations, of course. It is useless when wet but I would think that they would not perceive it as deadly. And it probably wouldn't get deep into the mound.
I just wonder if anyone has determined its effectiveness.
I can't pronounce it let alone spell it. Don't think I ever tried it. What is it anyway? An insect killer?
_____________________________
Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
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RE: Fire Ant Problems? - 5/30/2008 4:30:58 PM
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GrahamCracker
Posts: 1758
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From: Dallas, TX
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Coffee_Drinker
quote:
ORIGINAL: GrahamCracker
Has anyone tried diamtomaceous earth? There are limitations, of course. It is useless when wet but I would think that they would not perceive it as deadly. And it probably wouldn't get deep into the mound.
I just wonder if anyone has determined its effectiveness.
I can't pronounce it let alone spell it. Don't think I ever tried it. What is it anyway? An insect killer?
Diamataceous earth is crushed mineral residue from microscopic (or nearly microscopic) animals, akin to coral--if not the same thing. You can buy it in a bag and it looks like talc powder.
Its insecticide properties are believed to be based on its microscopic sharp edges that pierce the shell of insects so that they dehydrate. It's supposed to cut them up. It is almost harmless to mammals, unless the dust breathed into the lungs in quantity. There is no chemical harm from its use. The harm would be physical/mechanical.
It can be consumed in food by mammals and it is claimed to have harmful effects on intestinal parasites.
However, when it is wet, it clings together and doesn't stick to any critters enough to hurt them much.
I have been told that people dust their cattle with it and that it is effective on flies. We put some on the floor where ants were entering the house and eating cat food. I had my doubts but it worked. We didn't have to use any chemical insecticide.
< Message edited by GrahamCracker -- 5/30/2008 9:17:01 PM >
_____________________________
Larry
Sure we're under the law, everybody knows that!
When He said, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear. (Heb 10:13)
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RE: Fire Ant Problems? - 5/31/2008 9:58:49 AM
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woodwind228
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From: Atlanta
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Where would you buy something like that? I might give it a shot with some ants around my doorway outside.
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*~* Susan *~*
These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world. --John 16:33 KJV
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RE: Fire Ant Problems? - 6/5/2008 6:47:54 PM
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GrahamCracker
Posts: 1758
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Dallas, TX
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quote:
ORIGINAL: woodwind228
Where would you buy something like that? I might give it a shot with some ants around my doorway outside.
I bought mine at a feed store in Dallas. You can buy it on line. Probably one could get it locally in any city large enough to support a garden store that caters to organic type gardeners.
_____________________________
Larry
Sure we're under the law, everybody knows that!
When He said, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear. (Heb 10:13)
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RE: Fire Ant Problems? - 6/6/2008 6:13:16 AM
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car2ner
Posts: 3029
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From: just north of Florida
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I use amdro bait. I have tried a bit of bleach but new nests come up so it is an on-going project. They come up with Amdro as well but not as often. I tried using Over and Out on the yard. It is supposed to be a once a year treatment. I was not impressed.
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"May your days be long and your hardships few".
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