Natural ways to get rid of fire ants in compost?

Jan 11, 2010 15:10

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composting, pest control: outdoor

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Comments 11

zenturbo January 11 2010, 21:24:16 UTC
My ex-fiancee (a native of Houston) once told me he would collect his urine and pour it on the mound repeatedly. I do not know if this worked or not, but he lived out of trailers for 10 out of 12 months of the year (and in states where those buggers live) and swore by it.

The only other way I know to get rid of ants is to mix boric acid with honey. The first time, you put out just the honey and let them feast. The second time, you mix in the second ingredient and let them take it back to the nest. I have to do this every spring when the ants start finding their way into my kitchen.

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zenturbo January 11 2010, 23:54:36 UTC
I think it depends on what you're growing and what nutrients are needed in the soil. I knew a woman whose soil was nitrogen poor and she asked all the construction workers working in her house to pee in milk jugs so she could supplement the soil with it. Sounds weird, but it worked.

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astrelsa January 11 2010, 21:54:54 UTC
I've never actually had to deal with fire ants, but I know that ants in general tend to nest where it's dry, so perhaps the compost needs to be more moist.

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misshawklet January 11 2010, 23:07:16 UTC
this is a great idea I think! Compost should be like a squeezed out sponge, moist wise. that will be good for your worms too. I think ants and worms cohabitate just fine in nature so i wouldn't worry about them together in your compost bin..there are lots of other insects in there I'm sure living out their insecty lives!

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oxymoron02 January 12 2010, 00:08:49 UTC
I'm assuming they're just getting into your bin and aren't starting a colony there with this, so here goes.

Give your bin legs, so that it's not sitting on the ground. Then, set each of those legs in something that won't rust and is water tight, old plastic coffee cans work well. Fill the containers with water, and keep them full.

While fire ants can swim, they're not going to swim across to get food.

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willowriver January 12 2010, 15:57:13 UTC
Wow. This is brilliant. Now if I could only build a mote around my food pantry ...

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caseycarnage January 12 2010, 01:28:37 UTC
Awesome. Thank you guys so much! I don't have a problem bottling some pee and elevating my tub. You folks rock!

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silken_shadow January 12 2010, 03:04:34 UTC
You might want to contact your county Ag Extension agent. I know here in NC they have all kinds of handy dandy solutions to gardening problems including composting.

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