WE'VE GOT ANTS![Eco-Wacko Alert]

Atlanta Journal Constitution ^ | 6/11/06 | Mike Toner

[Oshkalaboomboom]

In the 70 years since the imported red fire ant sneaked into Mobile aboard a ship from Brazil, no insect has been more vilified or subjected to such a relentless chemical assault from Southern homeowners, gardeners and farmers.

Even the government joined the quest to kill the pest, but through it all, the fire ant has not merely endured, but prospered, expanding from its original beachhead in Alabama to populate 320 million acres in 18 states.

Every year as the weather heats up, Southerners notice anew the earthen mounds of Solenopsis invicta rising like the pyramids of some ancient city, from lawns, pastures, parks and golf courses, visible proof that the tiny stinging ants, the bane of barefoot living and curse of the constant gardener, are here to stay.

Still, the battle rages. Hardware and garden store shelves overflow with chemicals designed to keep the ants in check potions and poisons that promise "Entire Colonies Destroyed Within 3-7 Days," and granules that vow to "Kill the Queen in 24 Hours." For big jobs, there are special chemical drenches, pressure injectors, scalding steam, bait stations and chemical spreaders.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that the cost of pesticides and other control efforts, plus damage caused by the ants, is $6.5 billion a year.

Although the ant's sting unsually amounts to little more than a painful annoyance, it can be life-threatening when inflicted in sufficient numbers on hypersensitive individuals, infants, or the elderly. Birds, turtles, small deer and calves occasionally fall victim to swarms of fire ants. Their large mounds, up to 18 inches high, have also been known to damage farm implements and lawn mowers.

Chad Grosklags, co-owner of U-Spray Inc. in Lilburn, says he gets hundreds of calls a year from homeowners seeking solutions to the "ants from hell."

[Oshkalaboomboom]

What have Fire ants got to do with anything? Well if you delve a bit deeper into the article you will see 2 telling quotes:

Early efforts to eradicate fire ants --- using World War II bombers to drop pesticide-laced bait --- killed more wildlife than ants. The fire ant eradication effort, derided by some as "the Vietnam of entomology," earned its place among many other misguided attempts to mess with Mother Nature in Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring."

As if man's meddling wasn't enough our assault on the planet is making things even worse:

Gradually, fire ants are settling into their niche in nature's scheme of things. Cold temperatures have blocked, at least for now, the northward expansion of the ants. Global warming, of course, could help extend their range further.

Once again nature triumphs over the evil human race. If we're bothered by fire ants we have noone but ourselves (and the ignoring of the Kyoto Protocols) to blame.

[texas_mrs]

ignoring of the Kyoto Protocols, eh? I smell ozone

[ARealMothersSonForever]

NB4ZOT!

[MikefromOhio]

Once again nature triumphs over the evil human race. If we're bothered by fire ants we have noone but ourselves (and the ignoring of the Kyoto Protocols) to blame.

And after I type this I am going to go pollute in my horribly ineffcient car and get fast food, just to piss libs like you off.

[groanup]

Your ant just got fired.

[small voice in the wilderness]

..you must've broke down somewhere along the internet and decided to wander in here.. Town seems quiet, doesn't it??..too quiet..better get that Prius running and fast, mister. Consider yourself warned..

[MikefromOhio]

cheese

moose

sister

log in

moron

liberal

kaboom!!!

[Former Fetus]

what they don't realize is that the ants are usually there even when you don't see them. I get reminded of that every time I bend over to pull up a weed in my yard and get stung

My "favorite" is when I pick a peach from a peach tree and dozens of fire ants start coming out of the peach! Last year they almost killed one of my peach trees.

I have posted this in FR before but it never hurts to remind people: if a fire ant bites you, use a roll-on deodorant that contains baking soda in it (such as Arm and Hammer). I've been using it for years now and, if used promptly, you won't have those annoying blisters the following day. My son is allergic to fire ants and I used to carry an epinephrine pen with me... now all I use is the deodorant and it works!

[BruceysMom]

IB4TZ!!!!!

[BruceysMom]

(and the ignoring of the Kyoto Protocols)Are YOU the eco whacko you are warning us about?

[PeteB570]

None of those little buggers set up shop around my yard for long. Lights out with a good overdose of pesticide.

I see a dirt patch coming up out of my neighbor's yards and I'll sneak over and get that one also.

[facedown]

...Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring."

An unparalleled bit of dishonesty directly responsible for the deaths of millions of people.

[PeteB570]

Chew toy for the Viking Kitties?

[Conan the Librarian]

Around here is "Chew toy of the Gnat Gods" (A book locally published here in Savannah, Ga) Best way to get rid of fire ants is uncooked Grits. Pour some around the mound....they take it down. After a day or so, add water. The Grits swell up and plug up the mound and most things in it.

In combo with Ampro...they DIE!

[NonValueAdded]

I swear there is a solid layer of fire ants a foot thick under Florida. They also live in trees, in the walls of your house; they are everywhere. They are voracious eaters and can reduce a small dead animal (mole or snake) to a skeleton in less than a day. If the turkey vulture doesn't handle the clean-up, the fire ant will. All the chemicals seem to do is to move them from one location to another. I don't see how Florida livestock can co-exist in untreated fields. If the author thinks that we can somehow co-exist with these predators, s/he's crazy.

[mewzilla]

We've got the big black ones. Ant motels take care of those just fine. Why not use them for fire ants. The red ones turn up their mandibles at them or something?

[xJones]

I have posted this in FR before but it never hurts to remind people: if a fire ant bites you, use a roll-on deodorant that contains baking soda in it (such as Arm and Hammer). I've been using it for years now and, if used promptly, you won't have those annoying blisters the following day.

Thank you very much, I hadn't read that before. I'm sitting here looking at my right foot with several of those wunnerful fire ant blisters from three days ago. I'll follow your advice - and it better work!:D

[Bommer]

. If we're bothered by fire ants we have noone but ourselves (and the ignoring of the Kyoto Protocols) to blame.

I'm bothered more by enviormental Nazi's then Fireants, because I can get away with killing fireants.....by the millions!!

[kcvl]

Jet stream shift could alter path of deserts
By MIKE TONER

[DustyMoment]

IB4TZ!!!!