Ant problem in Florida..

[richierabbit89]

I had a litter born a few weeks ago an the fire ants got to them. As far as i know they should of all been alive. Before the ants got them. I checked on them that night an then about lunch time the next day an this is when i noticed. Just wondering if anybody ever had an issue i got two litters due next week. I don't want to loose any more.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

How awful! What a terrible way for the them to die.

I am sorry for your loss.

Thankfully, we don't have fire ants here.

How are your cages set up? Did the ants crawl up the support posts?

If so, you could use the sticky barrier commonly used on fruit trees to prevent crawling pests from getting to the fruit.

http://www.contech-inc.com/products/hom ... ct-barrier

 

[zee]

Sorry for your loss. I saw a video where this guy sprinkled some diatomaceous earth on the ground around the cage. I don't know if this works, but, he swears by it.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I also use DE for insect control, but it is not an immediate kill. They will die in a day or two, but that wont help the kits.

 

[MaggieJ]

Some people set the legs of the supports to their cages in tin cans of liquid... Can't remember if it is kerosene or just water with dishwashing liquid to break the surface tension. They need to be wide cans like those for tomatoes... Otherwise the ants will use each other to build a bridge across.

Being a member of the Belt AND Suspenders Club, I would likely use the cans along with the sticky stuff. I'd also put down the DE and a couple of jars of baking soda mixed with icing sugar. The idea there is that they eat the stuff and the baking soda blows them up. It seemed to work here with regular ants, but even if it doesn't work with fire ants it may act as a distraction.

 

[TMTex]

I'm sorry for your loss. If it's any comfort, your thread might help save other kits. I saw some fire ants roaming close to my hutches and didn't think much of it. They're everywhere.

Now, I'll take some action against them. Maybe some Bayer fire ant killer around the outside perimeter of the rabbit run along with the sticky stuff.

Is kerosene ok around bunnies, MaggieJ? I have some of the old natural kerosene from before they went synthetic.

 

[MaggieJ]

Sorry, TMTex... I have no idea if it is safe or not. I would think that as long as there is sufficient ventilation and no fire hazard that it would be okay. We have no personal experience of fire ants... They cannot survive this far north, thank goodness!

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I have heard of using a can filled with motor oil as well. Old fryer oil would work too... or new vegetable oil if you don't mind the cost.

 

[Lizardslaps]

I would not pour motor oil on it (only because it dont ever go away)

gas works great jab the nest good with a stick and pour like some on kills instantly

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I would not pour motor oil on it (only because it dont ever go away)

No, no... fill a can with oil and then put the legs of the cage support in the can so it is surrounded by a moat of oil that the ants cannot cross.

 

[Miss M]

Oh, that is such a horrible way to lose babies! I am so sorry!

I guess DE around everything that comes into contact with the ground and could lead to the buns... I don't know anything else.

I'm so concerned about this myself. What kind of setup do you have? Mine are hanging cages... I have chickens under my cages, and I'm hoping that will help deal with ants.

I'm using Amdro on the nests in the yard. Fire ants don't go for borax or baking soda, no matter how lovingly you grind it and mix it with peanut butter and syrup. Most other ants will (you must POWDER the Borax), but not fire ants.

 

[bowbuild]

Pest control is my work.(I run a business) I would strongly suggest you call a professional operator before you make things worse! Fire ants which I do not deal with being from the northwest can be very difficult to exterminate and some chemicals can make things much worse. As a natural (possible) short term solution I would look up a product called orange guard the natural ingredient in orange guard is d-limonene it is in most citrus peels, and kills by suffocation, and won't hurt a thing.

Bowbuild

 

[Miss M]

Thanks, Bowbuild, I'll be looking that up.

By making things worse, are you referring to chemical contamination of the area?

 

[bowbuild]

No, by splitting the colony and have more ants in the long run. Dealing with insects with chemicals IS chemical warefare, just like unleaded gasoline and kerosene they both burn, but only one is suited for your car....for the most part. What is worse is most people think a little is good, why not triple the amount....and that is not good....read the instructions people BEFORE you use chemical pesticides.

As a rant....I have to be tested....repeatedly....to apply chemicals to the outside of homes/businesses, yet your average home owner can buy a bunch of chemicals that they know nothing about, and spray whatever without knowing the first thing about pest control. If you are determined to use chemicals READ THE DARN LABEL, not only for the enviroment, but for your own health before you do something you wish you did not! Keep chemicals away from all souces of water!! Think about run off, and where it will run off too. If you have a well, how deep is it?? Will the product your using contaminate it?? Think people, for all our sakes!

Bowbuild

 

[Miss M]

I try not to use chemicals, and I always read the labels when I do.

I try hard not to use them. I have found no alternative with fire ants, though, which are proliferating quickly on my property. I will look up Orange Guard, though. It would be nice to have a safe alternative.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Good rant, Bowbuild! :clap:

 

[Miss M]

Good rant, Bowbuild! :clap:

We're giving rant awards now? :hooray: :lol:

Orange Guard looks promising. Looks even more promising as part of a two-part system called the Texas Two-Step: http://www.cleanairgardening.com/fireants.html.

Thanks, Bowbuild!

Reminds me of what my parents used to do. Pour detergent around and then on the mound, then spray hard with a water hose. The idea was to wash off their protective coatings so they would drown.

It worked somewhat. The surviving ants would move a few feet away, where you could hit them again... and then again... and again. But they were still there.

I've got at least 20 mounds on these two acres. And they aren't small.

 

[bowbuild]

:lol: Well, I'll take the rant award....better than nothing!

 

[richierabbit89]

I have wooden hutches.. Nothing fancy.. I have a friend who is a pest control man an he gave me some stuff to try.. Like i said i am not sure if the ants kkilled them. If was both mine an my doe's first litter. Hopefully this stuff works.. I really appreciate the quick response an all the advice.

 

[bowbuild]

Ironic I was on you tube looking at organic gardening when I can across this, I have no idea if it works but it would be dirt cheap for fire ant mounds if it did....wait to see the part about vinegar in this vid. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTCFU9C7 ... endscreen..