Fire Ants - Page 1

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Posted: 6/13/2019 2:56:38 PM EDT

Anyone have any good solutions for killing fire ants other than pouring boiling water on their mounds that won’t kill my dogs if they get into it?

Thanks

Posted: 6/13/2019 5:13:38 PM EDT

[#1]

My father used soapy water. I like Amdro but don't know how that would sit with the dogs.

Posted: 6/13/2019 5:16:20 PM EDT

[#2]

I used AMDRO quick kill.

it knocked them right out. My dog never showed any problems..

but then again, he learned the hard way while sniffing a mound too, so he avoided them like the plague..

Posted: 6/13/2019 6:35:09 PM EDT

[#3]

Molten aluminum. Then dig it up, wash it out, and you have art.

Posted: 6/13/2019 6:47:19 PM EDT

[#4]

I use sevin pesticide for fireant mounds with success

Posted: 6/13/2019 9:55:26 PM EDT

[#5]

Sevin is my choice for the ones away from the house where the dogs can’t get to but it’s a no go up close where they roam.

Posted: 6/13/2019 10:15:02 PM EDT

[#6]

Quote History

Quoted:
Sevin is my choice for the ones away from the house where the dogs can’t get to but it’s a no go up close where they roam.

View Quote

Can you spray it then put a bucket or tub over the mound to keep the pets out?

An actual pesticide is your best option

Posted: 6/15/2019 12:20:54 AM EDT

[#7]

Taurus SC, sprayed on and around the mound.

It doesn’t kill them immediately.

All they have to do is touch it and bring it back to the nest. Kills them all in a day or 2.

They disappear like magic.

Works anywhere an ant or wasp will touch.

It’s not cheap but a little goes a long way.

My nephew told me about it and it’s the only thing I’ve used that really works for the wasps and ants we have.

Taurus SC

Posted: 6/16/2019 11:15:36 PM EDT

[#8]

I’ve ordered that. Will advise. Thanks for the recommendation.

Posted: 6/19/2019 6:46:35 PM EDT

[#9]

I use Over-n-Out in the spring and it last most of the summer to keep them out of the yard.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Over-n-Out-11-5-lb-Fire-Ant-Killer-100524398/204599626

I will treat the mounds in the woods with Orthene, but our dogs don't mess with it

Posted: 6/19/2019 8:23:03 PM EDT

[#10]

Quote History

Quoted:
I’ve ordered that. Will advise. Thanks for the recommendation.

View Quote

@ropin4gold do update if you can.

We don't have the fireants here, yet, but they will be here eventually. Especially now that we're getting pine straw out of the south. I hate the thought of them, and want to be armed with knowledge when the time comes.

Posted: 6/19/2019 9:04:57 PM EDT

[#11]

In the long term, baits work the best. I have had great results with Extinguish Plus broadcasted in the fall. Read the instructions, timing is important. Spot treating works if you have limited numbers of mounds but broadcasting is best.

Posted: 7/8/2019 10:06:41 PM EDT

[#12]

So the one right by the house got a large pan of boiling water. Online studies advised a 60% kill with that. I don’t know how many died but they unassed the area at a rapid pace. Next morning the mound was vacant.

Today I sprayed Taurus SC on two very large mounds in my yard behind the shop where the dogs can’t go. Will advise on that later this week. As always thanks for the recommendations.

Posted: 7/8/2019 10:28:54 PM EDT

[#13]

Oil gas mix like for a weed eater and a match.

Will burn some, but will burn long enough to displace all the oxygen and kill them.

Works for yellow jackets too.

Edit......remember to stand back.

Gas vapor is not friendly.

Posted: 7/11/2019 11:08:48 PM EDT

[#14]

Quote History

Quoted:
So the one right by the house got a large pan of boiling water. Online studies advised a 60% kill with that. I don’t know how many died but they unassed the area at a rapid pace. Next morning the mound was vacant.

Today I sprayed Taurus SC on two very large mounds in my yard behind the shop where the dogs can’t go. Will advise on that later this week. As always thanks for the recommendations.

View Quote

@ropin4gold

How did it go with the Taurus?

And did they return to the boiling water mound?

I'm guessing not, and if you got the queen ant, thinking they may have dispersed and died. Hoping so.

Also hoping they do not adapt to cold enough to get as far north as we are.

Armadillos are almost here. We sure as shootin' don't want freaking fire ants.

Posted: 8/26/2019 5:14:40 PM EDT

[#15]

20 Mule Team Borax and sugar. 50-50, mix thoroughly, dry. Sprinkle in a circle around the anthill so they have to walk through it when leaving or returning to the nest.

Borax is highly toxic to ants. They will ingest it and pick up the mix and return to the nest and spread it to the others. They also preen themselves and eachother and spread it that way.

I have had 100% success with this mix and its not toxic to humans or pets, just ants.

Posted: 8/26/2019 11:48:37 PM EDT

[#16]

Quote History

Quoted:
20 Mule Team Borax and sugar. 50-50, mix thoroughly, dry. Sprinkle in a circle around the anthill so they have to walk through it when leaving or returning to the nest.

Borax is highly toxic to ants. They will ingest it and pick up the mix and return to the nest and spread it to the others. They also preen themselves and eachother and spread it that way.

I have had 100% success with this mix and its not toxic to humans or pets, just ants.

View Quote

@tommygun2000

What do you mean by "dry"?

It seems like it would be dry already.

Do you spread it in pans and let it dry even more? Put it in the oven on low?

What?

Posted: 8/29/2019 2:15:21 PM EDT

[#17]

Dry meaning don't add any water to the mix, just borax and sugar. Sorry for the confusion.

Posted: 8/30/2019 1:30:55 AM EDT

[#18]

Quote History

Quoted:
Dry meaning don't add any water to the mix, just borax and sugar. Sorry for the confusion.

View Quote

Ah. Got it. Thank you!

Posted: 9/21/2019 3:58:23 PM EDT

[#19]

The Taurus worked. Will try the borax/ sugar mix next time but I’ve had pretty good luck with terro in the house so it will probabaly work. Was in a class last week and learned about the Texas two step method might try it if it becomes too much of a problem.

https://fireant.tamu.edu/controlmethods/twostep/

Although I currently don’t have any more mounds to experiment on......

Posted: 10/4/2019 10:54:28 AM EDT

[#20]

Orthene.

Posted: 10/4/2019 10:26:16 PM EDT

[#21]

I have found that Amdro >> Orthene.

Orthene is just kind of marginal and it reeks. Plus i have kids and dogs.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Fire Ants

Outdoors » Homestead, Farm & Garden

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