tell me the truth about... ants (house, buy, garden)

[royalfortune]

Um, across the street I am watching an ant Everest appearing in my neighbor's yard, right at the street line. Meanwhile, in my yard, I am noticing small red hills, mostly built into tufts of grass, as I'm mowing. One here, one there.

I have placed Terro Traps nearby. I have taken to hoe-ing the hills open, causing a big ant panic, and sprinkling boric acid powder on the little fellers. (This has the unfortunate effect of killing the grass, so I have to stop doing this.)

These are small black ants. (This is not a fire ant, right?) But they certainly can bite if you get em on you! And the last thing I want is for them to find their way into the house from the yard. (So far, no.)

One here, one there, and another.

What do I do? Any advice?

Thanks!

MC

[NCyank]

I mix up some liquid Sevin in a watering can and flood the nest slowly late in the evening or early in the morning. You want it to saturate the tunnels underground. If you don't get the queen you may have to chase the nest around the yard a few times as they rebuild but it has never taken me more than one or two soakings to kill the nest.

[Weedydidi]

Originally Posted by royalfortune

These are small black ants. (This is not a fire ant, right?) But they certainly can bite if you get em on you! And the last thing I want is for them to find their way into the house from the yard. (So far, no.)

Could be. Fire ants are black and tiny.

[royalfortune]

Yeesh. So, these could be fire ants, huh? Yikes.

What is "liquid Sevin"?

MC

[jstevens44]

I thought fire ants were red, hence the "fire".

[BxRosie]

Originally Posted by jstevens44

I thought fire ants were red, hence the "fire".

They burn when they bite

BxRosie

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Sevin is a poison that you can buy at nurseries, Home Depot, etc. Get the liquid kind.

[NCyank]

GardenTech™

You can find Sevin nearly anywhere they sell lawn and garden products.

I don't know that it specifically says 'fire ants' on the package but I have used it for all kinds of ants, spiders, beetles...mostly bugs that are creating a nuisance...the rest I leave alone.

[Weedydidi]

Originally Posted by BxRosie

They burn when they bite

and the bites burn when you scratch them.

[Weedydidi]

Originally Posted by jstevens44

I thought fire ants were red, hence the "fire".

Up close they may be red, but to the human eye, they are black.