Posted on 09/15/2004 7:31:58 AM PDT by An American in Turkiye
Anyone have a tried and true way of killing fire ants? I bought some white, nasty powder from Ortho and all it did was make the ants move their mound. After 5 attempts, I poured boiling water on them. Killed them all, along with a patch of my grass. Any suggestions would be welcomed.
Lots of great ideas to deal with fire ants!
I still want to stuff an M-80 down a nice big mound and run like h*ll!
Semper Fi
I think you are on the right track using , what I believe to have been Ortho's "Orthene", a very smelly and very expensive white powder. I just tried the following recipe and so far have had very good results. Here goes:
Get a large container, say a large mouth gallon size, and thoroughly mix the following:
1. 2 pounds cornmeal
2. one half package cherry flavored jello (not sugarfree)
3. one fourth cup of sugar
4. 3 heaping tablespoons of Orthene
Shake well and keep tightly capped.
Punch a few holes in the fireant mound and sprinkle at least two tablespoons all over the mound.
You can double the recipe but I suggest you try this small amount first.
This recipe does several things: it is not nearly as smelly, it is far more economical and the fireants love the flavored sweetness so much they apparently take some to their queen, we hope.
Be cautious using it around pets, I don't know if any would eat it but it is sweet and an animal just might have a sweet tooth.
Good luck and let me and others know if it works for you.
I have tried the magnifying glass when I was a youngster and later advanced to the BUTANE TORCH. After having been bitten so many times, it is fun to poke a couple holes in the mound and torch them when they attack. It does not destroy the queen but sure gives a lot of satisfaction in showing the little @$%#&^s the true meaning of "FIRE", albiet somewhat sadistic, but in this case it is OK.
"Take one clove of garlic, chop it up extra fine, and put it in a gallon container with a gallon of water and a tea bag. Let it sit for twelve hours. "
Sounds like a good vampire killer too!
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