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.
Drive by or sleeper cell Troll?
Inquiring minds want to know.
Get ready. Set. ZOT!
Here in Florida, where a lush green St. Augustine lawn is a matter of suburban pride, we use so many chemicals that nothing should be alive.
Fire ants and mole crickets get the poison.
Dollarweed and stinging nettle get the herbicide.
And of course a good quarterly fertilizer keeps the turf a good 3-4 inches thick.
It's an environmentalist's nightmare!! GG
You just can't kill these things off. You know those 500-lb bombs that destroyed Zarquawi and his companions the other day? Well the news didn't tell you this but the very next morning, the rubble was covered with new fire ant mounds. Bush doesn't want us to know that. This country has been through enough trauma.
In the past two years, I have discovered 5 fire-ant mounds on my suburban residential lot in Memphis, to which I have applied 5 half-cupfuls of Amdro granules and 10 gallons of water, using a 2-gallon watering can.
They might return, but I still have half a bag of Amdro if they do.
Despite Charlie Pickett's friendly advice, never had any luck with Amdro.
I also keep handy some of this mixture:
1 gallon waterStir just to mix. Drench ant mound with entire batch immediately.
2 cups household ammonia
1-2 squirts dish detergent
I reckon the ammonia burns/suffocates them and the detergent provides enough slickness to let the liquid penetrate deep into the mound.
I don't want to sound like an eco-nut, but do fire ants have any natural enemies?
If we are the "evil" human race, you could help out by removing yourself from the population. That is unless you are a hypocrite.
There is this neato silicone like goopy pesticide that can be injected straight into fireant nests.
Works wonders.
Though you have to wear a modifed bee keeper suit to use the stuff or get bit to pieces..