They are Back again

The Last two weeks I have been on a Fire Ant Eradication mission , Think a gilloin ants went to meet their Maker. About 150 mounds have been wiped out. Using an old piece of Aluminum I would search to the bottom of old established mounds that those nest were sometimes two feet deep . Then the survivors were tortured till a new nest was not built .. I still have more mounds than can be counted but I am ahead of them this year --- Just in time --- I just found the First few Catapa Worms on a few trees that are about 1 1/2 inches long in the area where I have been killing Ants -- In the Life cycle of the Catapa Moth the worm is the Larva cycle. When grown to full size , those that made it past the Birds go into the ground until they emerge as a new moth [probably next year] -- that is when most die due to stings from the ants, and the reason that so many trees in the south no longer have any moths to lay eggs on the leaves -- most Moths stay in the region of the trees where they lived as worms... WE have several new trees come up around here every year but most are pushing 100 years old, planted by my Grandpaw . I live close to Farmerville and can give some worms to try restoring the Moths to their trees -- but without getting rid of the Fire Ants around those trees and protecting from Birds they still might not survive. I don't want the Moth to become Extinct because so many birds need them to survive and feed their Young

Larry can you elaborate on how your extermination process works. Last year in my garden I would take a shovel full from one pile and put it on the other pile.

Get you a five gallon bucket drill some small holes in bottom to release rain water, put some dirt in it and hang it under a shed eve. When worms on tree are grown throw ten or so in bucket with some leaves. They will grub up in the bucket and in 30 days or so they will hatch to moth and return to lay on your tree. Takes the ants and armodillas out of the game.

My dad lives in Northern AL and he had tons of trouble with fire ants until he got a few game chickens. He said in 1 summer they tore up every nest and ate every single ant. He said the chickens passed a few years ago and he still does not have fire ants. He said if they come back he will go get him a few more hens.

I started out using Bio- Advanced , Complete insect killer the kind used in yard spreader Coverage 10,000 feet for whole yard then I found Spectra-side whole yard type killer is better .. the Bio- Advance was suppose to be put out then wet in afterward --- Spectra side works on contact .. I only worked on the mounds directly and the edge after sturring up the nest -- The survivors built much smaller nest close By , But those nest are shallow. the Old mounds to the center of the earth will keep coming back till you get it all ... I have had Free range chickens here about 6 years till a couple of months ago -- the whole Flock followed the Lawn Mower till they could eat no more Crickets. Years ago I heard the ants would fight and the mound would die out .. I found it was not true here. If you take some dirt with a few ants and fill a hole you have now created a brand new Mound in exactly the spot the dirt went --- I dont think there is enough Poision on the Plannet to kill them now.. they Missed their chance when the ship load of lumber came into New Orleans with the ants in it .. they should have pulled the ship back out in the gulf and burned it to the water Line

Larry I use Talstar. It's available from most feed and seed stores. It's granular, not a poison, stays where you put it, wont wash away and I spread it twice a year. It's good for six months. I do the whole yard and when i find a nest I put a little extra. A nest treated will not produce a smaller nest in a few days. Once and done. Check it out, you wont be sorry.
"gene"

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Originally Posted by PawPaw "gene"

Larry I use Talstar. It's available from most feed and seed stores. It's granular, not a poison, stays where you put it, wont wash away and I spread it twice a year. It's good for six months. I do the whole yard and when i find a nest I put a little extra. A nest treated will not produce a smaller nest in a few days. Once and done. Check it out, you wont be sorry.
"gene"

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Technically it is a poison just not in liquid form.
I’ve heard it works good.

I have good luck with 75% Acephate . It’s in a powder form.
Martin is the brand name. I found it at my local Ace hardware


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I will have to track down that Talstar cause I have to pretty well keep it to the Mounds... Might try the Bucket Nursery -- it might kind of be like watching Grass Grow

Some good info.

Larry. I use a product called Taurus. I got it at Sanders chemical in Rayville, but O'Neal's in ruston had it cheaper. Takes 4 oz. per acre. Just mix it with however much water it takes your sprayer to cover an acre. Spray before a rain. It will soak in and in a few days you shouldn't have any fire ants. I have used it for years with great results. It is actually a repellant not a poison. They will move a few feet past the perimeter you sprayed and build but they won't be in your yard anymore. Spray once a year.