I still hate fire ants

This warm weather, 60s and 70s for highs in SC, have the fire ants coming out in droves. Mounds starting all over my yard. I have been working on them until I am tired. Bright spot is that some of the mounds had hundreds of winged ones and my understanding is that these fly off and start a new mound. If so, then I have slowed them down some. Treatment method is to mix liquid sevin in a five gallon bucket of water and generously apply the water to the mounds. Don't have hopes that that will get them all, but it will set them back.
Did I mention that I hate fire ants?

KEH

i find it as effective in a pump up sprayer. disturb the mound and spray liberally. takes less.

I've been spraying tempo on the mounds and it doesn't take much to kill them or move them out.

i use carbon monoxide from the truck i take post hole digger and dig out the center of the mound then put the pipe in and cover it up with the dirt from the mound

Are these fire ants, the same thing I call thatcher ants here in west wa. They build mounds as big as a #2 washtub, and twice as high? They build in the edge of the woods, next to my drive, and the gravel drive looks alive with them, during the warm months.

When I lived in MS we had some Myrex that the neighbor gave us. About a 100lb bag. It would only take a teaspoon on the mound to get rid of the ants. Workers would carry it down to the queen and that was it. Only took a day or two to kill the nest.

Of course, as the government is prone to do, thay made it illegal to use. Enviromental concerns. Over use was probably the biggest problem. They would spread it by aircraft. Glad I don't have that ant problem up here in Wisconsin. It was 5 degrees last night. Say what you want about our cold winters but, it keeps a lot of critters out and kills a lot that are already here.

KEH,
I've been fighting them for years, and as usual it seems all they ever do is move a few feet away. I liked the Orthene (that really stinky powder) but it's so expensive and doesn't go far.
Last year we were having trouble with little ants in the kitchen, not sure what they are but we just call them sugar ants or grease ants or pizz ants...whatever. I had seen folks mention do my own pest control on this site before, so I did some research and ended up buying some Cyper WP. I bought 2 of the 1 pound canisters figuring I was in for a long battle that I would probably loose at in the end.
Much to my surpirse and happiness One good spray around the foundation and a light dose in the cabinets and baseboards in the kitchen and we've had no more problems. I have re-treated along the foundaition near the kitchen several times since, not because we had any ants but because this stuff leaves a powder that kills later if crossed as I recall so if it gets wet from rain it's gone I'm guessing.
Anyway, since I have plenty I decided to try it on the fire ants. I mix it twice as strong (per the instructions) which is 2 scoops per gallon. The day after a rain is the time to spray, or drench. I've had great luck with just spraying early or late as they come out of the nest since it's being disturbed with the spray. Go out and look a few hours later and it looks like a battle field where everyone lost the battle, dead ants everywhere. I've concentrated on the yard near the house in the last 6 months, and we had a rain a few days ago and I only had one small mound appear. In the lot next door I've not sprayed it much, just a few tall mounds that were in our pathway to feed the chickens. After the rain a few days ago it looks like we have hundreds of mountains out there. I spent a few hours Saturday working on that side, used about 4 gallons. Can't wait for the next rain to see if it makes a difference, but I know it will. It's not very expensive, or at least I didn't think so after wasting so much money on Orthene. If you try it, buy a cheap sprayer and mark it Cyper Only. Also use all that you mix, the rinse and rinse again including spraying clear water to get it clean. Reason being, the residual powder will dry and ruin the sprayer or at least clog it up. After many uses I'm still on the first sprayer.
You may want to give this stuff a try before the gubbument finds out it works and takes it off the market!
Cyper WP

I've read where one of the reasons for the decline of the bobwhite quail through out most of the South is because of the fire ants. Any truth to this?

I watched a show called "INFESTED" on NETGO or Animal Planet the other night. A good old boy from somewhere in the south had to abandon his families homestead because of some imported ant from somewhere, which didn't mound, and pesticides didn't control them.
Loren, the Acg.

I dont think so. The quail left our place before the fire ants arrived by a few years. The experts tell that it is habitat problems but I disagree totally. The habitat around our place has not changed in 50 years. Still the same old fencerows with the same old honeysuckle, weeds, rowcrop fields etc etc. Its something else but I wish someone could put their finger on it...... I released 225 this year. According to the experts somewhere between 3-8% of released birds survive in the wild. that means that I have the possibility of one covey next year.... depressing....

it could be a part of it, but: people, includng myself, have worked hard to clean up fence rows and small plots with our tractors, bushhogs and roundup,their primary habitat and food source. i am currently working on a small field to replant some native plants in hope of attracting some back.

Interesting that the Cyper is not for sale in SC. It must be pretty good stuff.

KEH

Click the email button in this post before 12;01am 01-16-2013 to request my fire ant control program.
[b:164d1dcac3]It will;[/b:164d1dcac3]
Not require buying anything from me,supplies can be bought from several of your local places.
Require less labor than most and less expense than others I am aware of.
Have far less impact on envioriment than majority of controls.
Be safer around children,pets and livestock than most programs.
Give quick measurable results if you,
A. follow instructions
B. use on as small(sideyard) or large(acreage) area as you please and
use no other control
closer than 100 yards until you are convinced it works or that I am
nothing more than another blowhard similar to those who offer expert
advice on every subject known to the western world.
In return,I simply request you send me an email when you decide if it works or not and your feedback,good or bad so it may be considered in future research.
Your reply will be sent after 12;01am Wednesday.

In my research there is no such thing as "attracting some back". Once they are gone they are gone. Some have successfully reintroduced them to their property by constantly trapping predators and supplying a constant food source. Good cover is also essential.

I did my first release this fall. I released about 225 birds. The birds have a few miles of fencerows and an acre or so of honeysuckle around for cover. They have availablility of water and milo. They seem to be doing ok. I have shot about 30. I may have one more shoot then leave the remainder to see what happens. The experts say that between 3-8% will survive. That will leave one covey hopefully next fall. They have a chance to raise. Their offspring have a much better chance of survival.

If you own several acres and can get some blackberry bushes or native lespadeesa going an acre here and there you'll have a pretty good chance. Birds need water and food outside of their cover. They do not like bottom land. They dont like wet feet. They are not called an upland bird for nothing...

I would love to see more people interested in reintroducing quail. Some folks like to Deere hunt. Some like to deer hunt, but me I like to Deere hunt and bird hunt

Interesting, I didn't notice that. I see New York has it's own page of stuff you can buy there, that's not too surprising.
Well maybe you could order it shipped to a family member in another state and pick it up on your next visit!
First time I tried it I found in in a foil pouch at TSC and it was VERY pricey, so I headed to the internet and found it a whole bunch cheaper. Not even 100% sure the link I included is where I bought it, but it was a name very similar if not and the shipping was free too.
BTW, I discovered a swarm of carpenter ants after this last rain too, they too are gone.

Yes, that is true. They will kill a newborn calf, goat etc. if dropped on a mound too.
But have no concern, the A&M quail are hatched by folks in their incubators all over the place, so they are back on the increase. I love the call they make and sometimes can mimic it good enough to have them call back.

good info, thanks. guess what was on the fence rows i cleaned off. yep, blackberry bushes.