I have tried gasoline (kills the grass), diatomaceous earth (not effective) and boiling water ( risky to carry) Orthene does it for me...it's just so expensive.

-- Buddy (Buddybud@csranet.com), April 01, 2002

Answers

torch

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), April 01, 2002.

We have tried about everything, Amdro, Spectricide, grits, boiling water, (no gas though, too bad for the environment and now too expensive), real kill, etc.

Orthene is the only thing I have found that actually will kill the ants instead of them just moving one or two feet away and starting over. It is also non organic so if you are thinking organic, then you will have to use something else.

-- Cindy (colawson@mindspring.com), April 01, 2002.

Here in Coastal South Texas, Orthene is the best we have found. Be warned, it smells like VERY rotten sauerkraut.

-- Rose (open_rose@hotmail.com), April 01, 2002.

I have great success with a shovel and diazinone 5% granule bait. First I shovel ants from one mound to the next to start wars. The next day, if the nests still show signs of life, I sprinkle the granules.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), April 01, 2002.

I have not tried this yet, but heard it advertised on a garden show on local radio (in Houston, TX).....it may be what you're looking for?

Organic Fire Ant Killer

-- Birdaldy (A-Birdlady@yahoo.com), April 01, 2002.

I use food grade Diatomaceous Earth to control the problem. If you use industrial grade DE, you won't be successful, from what I've heard. Once in a while some ants might appear, but they're dead in a couple of hours after sprinkling.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2222@hotmail.com), April 01, 2002.

I'm surprised you didn't have good luck with the Amdro, as I've always found it killed the mound within about 24 hours or so. You do have to apply it when the grass is dry. For some reason the ants won't eat it if it is wet. At one time, Brazoria county (probably the most fire ant infested county in the nation) had an Amdro subsidy program. I personally prefer boiling water, but it usually takes 2 or 3 applications a few hours apart. I especially like seeing the dead body piles afterward. Unfortunately, boiling water will also kill the grass, so you can't use it in the lawn.

-- Steve - TX (steve.beckman@compaq.com), April 02, 2002.

soapy water works well. dig a hole into the mound and pour in a gallon or so of water that has had a quarter cup of joy or dawn added. it's biodegradeable, fertilizes the grass, suffocates the ants. sometimes you have to do it twice.

-- (spammenot@nospam.com), April 02, 2002.

There is a new product advertised that I am eager to try. Over and Out by Sevin claims to get rid of the fire ants with one treatment per season - guarnteed. It has yet to hit the stores here and I am currently nursing the blisters all over my feet from those mean buggars. I have found nothing that does more than move the mounds here. My garden is their favorite place so I hope for a product that is safe for the enviorment.

-- Diana in FL (dvance4@juno.com), April 02, 2002.

For fire ant bites rub some dirt on right away to get them off. If you try to wash them off they cling harder and bite more! Then run inside and soak in the hottest water you can stand. It draws the poison so the bites won't blister. If it is a child or pet that was bitten use cooler water and lots of salt in the water and soak longer.

Have any of you tried boric acid to kill the ants? For sugar ants you mix it with sugar but for fire ants put a little dog food in a pile and spread the boric acid in a ring around it so they have to walk thru it. It is not particularly toxic to people or animals but works great on insects. I'm glad there aren't any fire ants or roaches up here. ;o)

-- kim in CO (kimk61252@hotmail.com), April 02, 2002.

Maybe add a little tabasco or other hot pepper sauce to the soapy water? Fight fire with fire....lol

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), April 02, 2002.

I hate fireants with a passion. Anyone that has heard their toddler screaming and you run around the house to find them covered in fireants knows what I'm talking about. They will kill any small animal that can't get away(one of my theories of why the quail have virtually disappeared here in NE Tx). I haven't found anything to kill em....everything just moves em over. I find that if I will start treating mounds every couple of days that I can move them until they are all outside the yard. Then I treat once a month for the ones that try to sneak back in. To kill the burn of a fireant sting pour on rubbing alcohol...works great for skeeter bites too...stops the pain almost instantly.

-- Amanda (mrsgunsmyth@hotmail.com), April 02, 2002.

I have used an Amway product called "Zoom" at full strength. It's effective on ants directly exposed to it. I do not know the residual effects or if you can dilute it & it remain effective. Zoom is also a very effective cleaner/ degreaser. good luck!

-- Fernando Arellano (LosArellanos@sbcglobal.net), April 02, 2002.

I don't have fire ants here, but I have been told that instant grits works. Sprinkle the grits around the opening and supposedly, when they eat it they swell up and die. Of course I've never tried it as I don't have the nasty critters to try it on. But it sounds easy and cheap......who knows?

-- Lee S. (trainrx2@swbell.net), April 02, 2002.

I cannot believe you homesteaders using all that poison! Check out this web site to learn the best natural way to deal with fire ants and many more weed and insect problems. www.dirtdoctor.com/ Here in north central Texas many of us are going completely organic by listening to the teachings of the dirtdoctor. thanks.

-- michael janik (mmjanik@ev1.net), April 04, 2002.