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Fire ants

sarasota alex

By sarasota alex
in DISCUSSING PALM TREES WORLDWIDE

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sarasota alex Veteran

sarasota alex

Posted
Posted

I discovered a fire ant colony about 2 inches away from a young palm going about half way around. I usually use boiling water to get rid of these, but I'm cautious not to damage the plant this time. If I get one of those fire ant killer mixes, would they be OK to use so close to a palm? Appreciate any advice

newtothis Rising Star

newtothis

Posted
Posted

I hope so, I just put down lawn pest control with a spreader. It's supposed to control fire ants too and said it was OK for beds/shrubs/trees so I let it fire away into the beds.

MattyB Grand Master

MattyB

Posted
Posted

Alex, if you want to stay away from poisons, spread some diatomaceous earth around the base of the palm and where the ant colony is.

Matt Bradford

"Manambe Lavaka"

Spring Valley, CA (8.5 miles inland from San Diego Bay)

10B on the hill (635 ft. elevation)

9B in the canyon (520 ft. elevation)

sarasota alex Veteran

sarasota alex

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Alex, if you want to stay away from poisons, spread some diatomaceous earth around the base of the palm and where the ant colony is.

Just googled it. Never heard of it before. It looks like it's available in regular stores. Thanks Matt!

GREENHAND Mentor

GREENHAND

Posted
Posted

Just put some Amdro fire ant killer and be done with it. It will not hurt your Palm.

Kumar Veteran

Kumar

Posted
Posted

Are fire ants such a hinderance to palms? I have two large 'trenches' of them one among the roots of one of my roystoneas and the other beside my 20 year old mango. Nevertheless, the palm seems no worse for it and the mango continues to produce an excellent harvest. I have found such colonies to be extremely seasonal though.

____________________

Kumar

Bombay, India

Sea Level | Average Temperature Range 23 - 32 deg. celsius | Annual rainfall 3400.0 mm

Calcutta, India

Sea Level | Average Temperature Range 19 - 33 deg. celsius | Annual rainfall 1600.0 mm

Central Floridave Veteran

Central Floridave

Posted
Posted

I let the fire ants live in my yard. They eat bad bugs. If they are in a spot where I don't want them, like up against a palm, I just keep disturbing the nest daily and eventually they get the hint and move. It usually takes 3 or 4 days for them to pack up and move. of course, fire ants can bite pretty good and if you have small children its best to kill them with poison. Otherwise, they don't bother me that much. I've never used pesticide in my yard (15 years) and have zero problems with bad bugs. I mostly contibute it to the army of ants that patrol my garden and looking for things to eat. (lizard, spider, and frog help also).

Central Florida Gardening Forum 2ndlight.Com

DoomsDave Grand Master

DoomsDave

Posted
Posted

As Floridave indicated, ants are much more of a problem for people than they are for palms.

I've got a garden full of ants, and few bugs in my plants.

Matty's idea with the diatomaceous earth works wonders. So does boric acid ("Roach Prufe") though it has to be kept dry (works great in the house).

d

a

v

e

Let's keep our forum fun and friendly.

Any data in this post is provided 'as is' and in no event shall I be liable for any damages, including, without limitation, damages resulting from accuracy or lack thereof, insult, or lost profits or revenue, claims by third parties or for other similar costs, or any special, incidental, or consequential damages arising out of my opinion or the use of this data. The accuracy or reliability of the data is not guaranteed or warranted in any way and I disclaim liability of any kind whatsoever, including, without limitation, liability for quality, performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose arising out of the use, or inability to use my data. Other terms may apply.

sarasota alex Veteran

sarasota alex

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks all for advice! I have two small children so fire ants are a problem. They are also usually followed by armadillos that have caused a lot of damage in the past.

GREENHAND Mentor

GREENHAND

Posted
Posted

Sure they are cute and cuddely, unless they do this to you. then its time to break out the flame thrower!

GREENHAND Mentor

GREENHAND

Posted
Posted

sorry! here is the painful pict.

post-59-12724765247761_thumb.jpg

sarasota alex Veteran

sarasota alex

Posted
  • Author
Posted

ouch!

DoomsDave Grand Master

DoomsDave

Posted
Posted

ouch!

Yep, Fire Ants can be NASTY.

I first encountered them in Texas in 1979, and, coming upon a fire ant mound, let one of the little [expletive]s climb onto my finger. She grabbed a pinch of skin in her jaws then butt-stabbed me with her stinger.

OUCH! [expletive expletive obscene gerund expletive] !!!

It felt like a [obscene gerund] needle being driven into my bone, after being dipped in acid. It left a nodule like in the picture that took forever to go away.

Bet that guy in the picture with the nubllies on his arm was in some serious agony for a while.

Ouch!

Let's keep our forum fun and friendly.

Any data in this post is provided 'as is' and in no event shall I be liable for any damages, including, without limitation, damages resulting from accuracy or lack thereof, insult, or lost profits or revenue, claims by third parties or for other similar costs, or any special, incidental, or consequential damages arising out of my opinion or the use of this data. The accuracy or reliability of the data is not guaranteed or warranted in any way and I disclaim liability of any kind whatsoever, including, without limitation, liability for quality, performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose arising out of the use, or inability to use my data. Other terms may apply.

  • 5 months later...
Mike Evans Mentor

Mike Evans

Posted
Posted

Worst thing about fire ants next to a palm is that they farm scale on the new growth. The scale secretes a sweet substance that the fire ants eat. In turn the fire ants move the scale around on the new growth, to keep them multiplying. A mutual relationship. When this happens, I try to kill them all at once. This is usually the only time I use insecticide.

Jerry@TreeZoo Grand Master

Jerry@TreeZoo

Posted
Posted

Worst thing about fire ants next to a palm is that they farm scale on the new growth. The scale secretes a sweet substance that the fire ants eat. In turn the fire ants move the scale around on the new growth, to keep them multiplying. A mutual relationship. When this happens, I try to kill them all at once. This is usually the only time I use insecticide.

Yup. Not just scale but also root mealy bugs. I use Amdro. There is a growth regulator but that takes time to work. Amdro kills the mound in a couple of days, it does not move it like some other methods.

So many species,

so little time.

Coconut Creek, Florida

Zone 10b (Zone 11 except for once evey 10 or 20 years)

Last Freeze: 2011,50 Miles North of Fairchilds

cfkingfish Grand Master

cfkingfish

Posted
Posted

I like to take a burning cigarette upside down and place it on the anthill. Watching those ants attack fire is morbidly amusing for me.

Christian Faulkner

Venice, Florida - South Sarasota County.

www.faulknerspalms.com

 

Μολὼν λάβε

BS Man about Palms Grand Master

BS Man about Palms

Posted
Posted

Sounds entertaining!

Zone 10a at best after 2007 AND 2013, on SW facing hill, 1 1/2 miles from coast in Oceanside, CA. 30-98 degrees, and 45-80deg. about 95% of the time.

"The great workman of nature is time."   ,  "Genius is nothing but a great aptitude for patience."

-George-Louis Leclerc de Buffon-

I do some experiments and learning in my garden with palms so you don't have to experience the pain! Look at my old threads to find various observations and tips!

Rusty on Pine Is. Mentor

Rusty on Pine Is.

Posted
Posted

Jackass Flatts was once overrun with Fire Ants...and then, as if immediately, they were absent....i now have a healthy super colony of Carribien (sp?) Crazy Ants, which through shear numbers out complete the nasty buggers...

..but contrary to opinion, Fire Ants are more rapacious and carnivorous than most, and will eat living organisms before they will imbibe honeydew excreted by scale...

...ah, but salvation comes with a price......the other ants may be farming scale to higher degree. :(

Rusty Bell

Pine Island - the Ex-Pat part of Lee County, Fl , USA

Zone 10b, life in the subs!...except when it isn't....

Jerry@TreeZoo Grand Master

Jerry@TreeZoo

Posted
Posted

I like to take a burning cigarette upside down and place it on the anthill. Watching those ants attack fire is morbidly amusing for me.

Giving them lung cancer is not a very fast way to get rid of them.

So many species,

so little time.

Coconut Creek, Florida

Zone 10b (Zone 11 except for once evey 10 or 20 years)

Last Freeze: 2011,50 Miles North of Fairchilds

_Keith Grand Master

_Keith

Posted
Posted

I like to take a burning cigarette upside down and place it on the anthill. Watching those ants attack fire is morbidly amusing for me.

I dont smoke, is there any other way?

I suggest a stick of dynamite. Works well for transplanting as well.

In my post I sometimes express "my" opinion. Warning, it may differ from "your" opinion. If so, please do not feel insulted, just state your own if you wish. Any data in this post is provided 'as is' and in no event shall I be liable for any damages, including, without limitation, damages resulting from accuracy or lack thereof, insult, or any other damages

Alicehunter2000 Grand Master

Alicehunter2000

Posted
Posted

I use fire ant bait.....I find amusement watching them carry it down to their queen....but not as fun as a cigarrette I'm sure.

David Simms zone 9a on Highway 30a

200 steps from the Gulf in NW Florida

30 ft. elevation and sandy soil

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