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 Post subject: Ant mound near garden
PostPosted: Sat Apr 10, 2004 10:08 am 
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Joined: Sat Apr 10, 2004 9:36 am
Posts: 6
Location: ,
We recently put in a raised-bed garden in the back yard, and within a week we had an ant mound peeking out from under. It's about 4 inches high, and I can see some ant activity, but I'm afraid to get too close. From what I can tell they are pretty tiny, but I can't make out color or features. I don't see wings, but again, I'm not sure.

How do I know whether or not it is a fire ant mound? (I'm new to Texas.) My online searches for "ant mound" turn up only fire ant links -- are they the only ants around here that would make mounds? Should I poke it with a stick and see if they crawl up it, or is that a bad idea? Can the ones with wings fly to attack?

I've read that some ants help keep fire ants away -- how do I know if these are those? If they're not fire ants, am I still setting myself up for a problem with ants in the house if I leave it alone? It's not a big yard, so the mound is about 20 feet from the house. Is it a good idea to sprinkle DE around the weep holes of the house either way?

Sorry for the barrage of questions -- we really didn't have bugs in northern CA, nor did we have a lawn to care for. If someone can point me to a good resource for organic lawn and garden insect control specific to this area, I'd really appreciate it. The previous owners had the yard and house chemically treated a few times a year, and I want to avoid that. I have books on organic lawn care that discuss the steps to smooth the transition from treated lawn to organic, but they don't address this area's ants, roaches, etc.

Thanks!
Michelle


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PostPosted: Sat Apr 10, 2004 5:09 pm 
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Joined: Sat May 10, 2003 5:48 pm
Posts: 806
Location: Weatherford,TX
Search this site. You should find help!

http://www.dirtdoctor.com/home.php

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The "soap" you use is normally chemicals, etc. Use real SOAP !!


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PostPosted: Sun Apr 11, 2004 1:35 pm 
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Joined: Sat Apr 10, 2004 9:36 am
Posts: 6
Location: ,
They were fire ants, which my husband proved via the "stick method" against my better judgement. From what I was able to learn online, the other ants that make mounds are generally larger than the ones in our yard. We did a drench with Anti Fuego, and will apply beneficial nematodes in another day or so.

During last night's rain storms I had nightmares that the survivors floated to saftey in our house. :shock:

Michelle


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 Post subject: Fire ant nightmares?
PostPosted: Sun Apr 11, 2004 7:33 pm 
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Joined: Wed May 21, 2003 5:33 pm
Posts: 829
Location: Dallas,TX
Welcome to Texas! You left a beautiful state so we hope you settle happily here.

Just a little tip; if you will mix in cornmeal with your fertilzer applications it will deter the fire ants even further. I have friends that kill them with cornmeal alone, and I have done this myself. I have no fire ants. I do have the beneficial ants, which I want in my yard because they help me, but not one single fire ant mound. Try it yourself. You'll become a believer!

Another tip is to keep some tea tree oil around to rub on any stings you do get. It will take the punch out pretty darned quickly if you apply it right away. In the meantime just be careful.

Last tip: Get Howard Texas Bug Book. It's a wealth of information and has some great stories too!
Kathe :lol:


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sun Apr 11, 2004 7:33 pm 
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Joined: Sat May 10, 2003 5:48 pm
Posts: 806
Location: Weatherford,TX
Michelle, your post made me laugh. Keep in mind that fire ants do not come after you unless to happen to stand or sit on their house. If you mess with them and then move a couple of feet away, they don't chase you down like yellow jackets do (ask Howard). I have never heard of flying ants biting (I might be wrong?). As far as ants floating to an area, I saw that one year when Lake Worth flooded caring huge mounds of fire ants all over the place. Keep in mind that a couple of ant bites is not the end of the world. The bites are more irritating than actually painful. Sleep well, you'll do OK as you learn.

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