They Really Hurt!
By letsee77
@letsee77 (224)
United States
August 20, 2009 6:53pm CST
I was out in the garden today picking some veggies. When I got to the oakra I didn't notice the small pile of soft loose dirt that was being formed. That was until I felt the stinging on my bare feet. Fire ants had started creating a mound right along the edge of my walkway, along where I planted my oakra. I had not been paying attention or I might have seen the small forming hill. It was still rather low and flat to the ground as they must have just started building it.
We get fire ants early in the spring, they build mounds all over our yard, but I have not seen any for a few months until today. Boy did that wake me up, the one that hurt the most got me right between my toes. I screamed, my neighbors probably think I'm daffy. Lol.
I don't like to use any poison to get rid of them as I have animals that go out in the yard and I don't want them getting sick. I usually take a shovel and mix two mounds together and allow them to take care of eachother. This little mound is the only one around right now, so I guess I'm just going to have to be cautious when I walk near the oakra next.
Do you have any pests in your yard that keep you from going near a certain area, maybe a large hornets nest that makes you keep your distance? Share your story! :)
3 responses
@dlr297 (5409)
• United States
21 Aug 09
They say that they are to eat it and that it expands their stomachs too much and it kills them off. That is why you are not supposed to put it down when it is wet out because the moisture will expand it before they eat it.
I dont know if it works, but it would not be that expensive to try it.
@letsee77 (224)
• United States
21 Aug 09
Sounds kind of like what happens to the poor geese if you give the bread that has yeast in it. They eat it and supposedly it expands, or rises, in the tummy and they can't go number 2 as it clogs them all up and can be fatal. I will certainly try this, it's wet out right now as it poured just last night, but once the sun comes up and dries it a bit I will sprinkle some down. Thanks again for this tip.
@Theresaaiza (10487)
• Australia
21 Aug 09
Those pesky red-colored ants that show no mercy at all???? 
Yep, I hate them too. Only, they don't make mounds near our okra. They make mounds near our garden faucet so that when one day I just turn into an Ant Bully, I just fire water into the mouth of their hill.
well in our farm we do worry about insects but more as pests rather than potential danger to our lives and health. what we worry in our farm are the wild snakes and monitor lizards.
Yep, I hate them too. Only, they don't make mounds near our okra. They make mounds near our garden faucet so that when one day I just turn into an Ant Bully, I just fire water into the mouth of their hill.
well in our farm we do worry about insects but more as pests rather than potential danger to our lives and health. what we worry in our farm are the wild snakes and monitor lizards. 1 person likes this
@letsee77 (224)
• United States
21 Aug 09
They must get so angry when you spray their nest. The man who mows our lawn once mowed over a mound, they rebuilt but now there was another about two feet away. I think when they were spread out the just expanded or something. So we have him try to avoid helping them create their own little city in our yard. :D
I also have a small garden and have been pretty lucky not getting many pests. I don't like to use harsh chemicles so I can only do so much to keep them away. We lost all our beans to japanse beatles, and some of our squash got infested by stink bugs. These bugs are not welcome as they ruin the plants we're growing for our own comsumption, but fire ants just unwelcome because they attack you, and your right show no mercy and attack with no fears. Lol Brave little defenders.
@ellaprice76 (196)
• United States
22 Aug 09
hmm, so if you mix 2 ant hills they kill each other. WOW great idea I didn't know that thanks.
Regular ants don't bother me much but the fire ants they really hurt. I feel for you. A bit from a fire ant bothers me for over a week. Hope it's not like that with you. Thanks for the tip.
@letsee77 (224)
• United States
22 Aug 09
Yes if you mix two different colonies together they will fight eachother. Ants go by smell, they follow scent trails left by other members of their colony and so on, an ant from another colony has a different scent and will be attacked and killed. When you mix the hills to them it's like an attack, "Save the queen, intruders" they have to protect their nest from the invaders you've added. It can be effective, but other times a colony of ants can have some strong forces and go out victorious. Lol They may lose a great number of soliders but that's ok becaus they won and the queen will provide more. It's hit or miss.
@ellaprice76 (196)
• United States
22 Aug 09
Thank you, letsee77 for the info on ants. Never thought that ants go my smell. My gardening is a trail and error thing, more error the trail most of the time.
@letsee77 (224)
• United States
22 Aug 09
You'r very welcome. Best of luck with your garden, trial and error is part of the joy. We'll never know what works unless we try it, and we learn from the things that don't. Having a garden can be a great way to relax too, if you enjoy working in the yard, and tending to it daily. When in the end all your hard work shows and you can feel so good about yourself and what you've accomplished. Whether it's flowers, vegetables or both.
Best of luck, and wishing you a great day. :D
