Fire Ants Kill Winter Texan in the RGV

pjsky wrote:
Come to Yuma AZ. NO ANTS

Oh that must be why I did the quarter mile in under 12 seconds after stepping on a mound of those suckers out Avenue 3E back in 07.

If you are operating under the misconception there is none of them out there you are wrong.

Dog Folks wrote:

mgirardo wrote:

rockhillmanor wrote:


I found those fire ant granules + hot water etc etc product doesn't even work. :(

I used the Amdro Fire Ant Bait granules and they worked every well. Ant nests are abandoned in a few days. I've never added hot water, just spread the granules directly on the nest. Broadcasting it on the lawn keeps them away as well.

-Michael

X2 Amdro has worked well for many years and many people. I used to use it commercially and got good results, IF YOU READ and FOLLOW the label directions.

X3. Amdro has the additional benefit of not being a poison. It's a hormone that stops the males from becoming sexually mature. The colony dies because it stops producing young ants.

You can also immediately put Benadryl Gel topically on your body where you were bitten *immediately, and it will helps stop the reaction to the venom and stops most of the blistering that can happen. I had this happen to me and it worked. If it happens again, I think I would also add an oral Benadryl tablet also as each time I've been stung/bitten, my reaction has been worse.

mgirardo wrote:

rockhillmanor wrote:


I found those fire ant granules + hot water etc etc product doesn't even work. :(

I used the Amdro Fire Ant Bait granules and they worked every well. Ant nests are abandoned in a few days. I've never added hot water, just spread the granules directly on the nest. Broadcasting it on the lawn keeps them away as well.

-Michael

X2 Amdro has worked well for many years and many people. I used to use it commercially and got good results, IF YOU READ and FOLLOW the label directions.

rockhillmanor wrote:


I found those fire ant granules + hot water etc etc product doesn't even work. :(

I used the Amdro Fire Ant Bait granules and they worked every well. Ant nests are abandoned in a few days. I've never added hot water, just spread the granules directly on the nest. Broadcasting it on the lawn keeps them away as well.

-Michael

BTW: fire ants are not only found in the Southern US. They are found all along the Maine coast, and are now invading Southern British Columbia, Canada.

The specie is European fire ant (Myrmica rubra). They sting in the same way as the fire ants found down south: leaving a huge inflamation (up to 4 inch diameter welt) and excruciating pain for up to several hours.

The Maine colonies have been found at least once about 20 miles inland, and the inland colonies can survive 2 northeast winters (these things can handle brutal cold, for at least several winters). Remember, coastal Maine is much more temperate than its interior over winter (same as coastal British Columbia, but a bit colder).

When I worked (and, lived) in Honduras in a region called The Mosquito Coast, we had ants called "bullet ants", about 1 inch long (Paraponera clavata). These things carry poneratoxin. Getting stung by one is so painful, it is often compared with getting shot with a 9mm (on a scale of pain 1-10, it is about 9.8). Your entire body will wreath in pain for at least 24 hours, often you will lose consciousness. I used to get them in my tent often, when out mapping in the vast jungles of this region.

Here is what to do if they bite you. Douse a rag of paper towel with household bleach and wipe the bite area down. It works. After a short time you could never tell they were there. I live in SW Florida and whenever I work in the yard I keep a jug of bleach and a towel handy. I have used it quite a few times.

fla-gypsy wrote:
After living with fire ants since their introduction into my area of Florida you develop a series of visual defenses that you employ without even thinking about it of scanning the terrain for mounds and smaller tell-tell signs of their presence and I enjoy the heck out of killing the little buggers.

X2

I found those fire ant granules + hot water etc etc product doesn't even work. :(

What I now use around my house here is Ortho House Bug Spray with a battery operated wand. I go around and hit those little mounds when they start and bam they are gone. No ordor and when it's dry it's safe for pets.

I carry it with me in the MH too in case I get a site with them. Spray the mound and at least while I am there they are gone.

I was told by a Texan friend, god love em, they are inundated with fire ants, that they just go under ground and come up somewhere else.

So far mine must be going out into the woods because I have them under control on my property! :B

After living with fire ants since their introduction into my area of Florida you develop a series of visual defenses that you employ without even thinking about it of scanning the terrain for mounds and smaller tell-tell signs of their presence and I enjoy the heck out of killing the little buggers.

Sure are ugly little suckers look at those pincers!

http://www.orkin.com/ants/fire-ant/fire-ant-identification-what-does-a-fire-ant-look-like/