Ants in the yard

[pavulon]

My yard has is developing a black ant issue. The colony began at the base of a 10-15 year old Swamp Oak. Over time (maybe 4 years) that tree has done better than any other tree in my yard and the ants regularly patrol it seemingly taking out any other bug that might show up in it. However, the colony has spread into the yard and is killing the grass.

So, would you live with it or take out the colony with poison?

[87maniac]

Costco bulk ground black pepper.
Sprinkle it where you don't want ants.
safe for pets, non toxic and effective.

Better, buy peppercorns and grind in coffeegrinder. Potent!

[Baz]

Generally speaking with ants I use bait products.

Here's one you can get from Amazon, for example:

TERRO 2600 FBA 2 lb. Perimeter Ant Bait Plus

Kills ants (except fire ants), cockroaches, crickets, earwigs, silverfish, slugs and snails
Not harmful to beneficial insects (ladybugs and butterflies)
Convenient, easy-to-use 2lb. shaker canister
Long-lasting, weather-resistant granules
Slow kill gives worker ants time to transport bait to the colony

[RWebb]

Glock

9 will be fine
for ants

[porsche4life]

Amdro granules. Sprinkle them
Liberally, does the trick every time

[KFC911]

^^^^ Used Amdro based upon your post many years ago....yep! Except I was very conservative in the application....just a bit around the mounds, and you can see workers taking it back to the nest...then they are gone.

The indoor Amdro stuff (in small containers) that you set out is excellent too fwiw....

[masraum]

If the ants are killing your grass, I'd get rid of them. Here in the southeast, it's not a big deal to kill some ants, because there are billions more waiting to take their place.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by KC911

^^^^ Used Amdro based upon your post many years ago....yep! Except I was very conservative in the application....just a bit around the mounds, and you can see workers taking it back to the nest...then they are gone.

The indoor Amdro stuff (in small containers) that you set out is excellent too fwiw....

+2 for Amdro, yes kill 'em all

[masraum]

I always used Amdro and it worked well, even if it was many years old and had been stored in a really hot shed during the summers.

[red-beard]

I find the old Amdro does not work very well. I replace it on a yearly basis.

I also like Amdro since the size is targeted to the fire ants. We have TINY micro-ants (Rover Ants). They are way too small to take the granules back. They do no harm and in fact do their job, cleaning up debris, like dead insects and worms.

[Salty Springs]

I live in central Fl. In years past have had a fire ant problem. The last two years nada. I don't know where they went,and no I don't miss them.


Dave

[Evans, Marv]

I use Tempo SC concentrate - 4 ml/gal. in an old Home Defense plasic container. I dribble about 8 to 16 oz. of it down the entrances, & the colony is gone the next day. I don't otherwise mind ants unless they're red ants or encroaching on my house.

[red-beard]

I'm using a new lawn fertilizer from Scotts, Weed, Feed and Fireant prevention. The stuff does work. Home Despot sells the individual grey powder that does the same thing. I prefer once and done.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by red-beard

I find the old Amdro does not work very well. I replace it on a yearly basis.

I also like Amdro since the size is targeted to the fire ants. We have TINY micro-ants (Rover Ants). They are way too small to take the granules back. They do no harm and in fact do their job, cleaning up debris, like dead insects and worms.

I've only used the granules on the bit red ant mounds outside. Inside my house, it's the tiny black ants that occasionally come in. The indoor Amdro stuff is contained inside the small container...not granules, more like a wax methinks. I wonder if the indoor stuff would work placed outside? Don't see why not....YMMV.

[cabmandone]

We had ants get in a trail camera and mess it up. Would that Amdro work if we put a around the base of the tree the camera is on?

[KFC911]

If ya didn't get yer "jelly doughnut" fingers all over the cam you wouldn't have that problem! Amdro doesn't deter... Mikey likes it! Takes a day or so for the ants to disappear after taken back to the nest...

I'd say probably not, but who knows? Was that a one-time deal? Something attracted them to the cam imo....

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by KC911

If ya didn't get yer "jelly doughnut" fingers all over the cam you wouldn't have that problem! Amdro doesn't deter... Mikey likes it! Takes a day or so for the ants to disappear after taken back to the nest...

I'd say probably not, but who knows? Was that a one-time deal? Something attracted them to the cam imo....

Twice I've opened cameras and found them crawling with ants. I don't know what attracts them to the cameras. I can't really use a spray to kill them because of the scent. I'd be worried it would keep the deer away. I might try the crushed black pepper idea but I'm not sure the deer will like that much either.

[KFC911]

I usually keep my cams in video mode (when out)...love to see the Bambis sniffing right up to the camera lens, get a whiff of my scent.....then GONE

I smell better than pepper too....imho

[stevej37]

Every year..I battle the ants that leave the ugly brown sand circles on my asphalt driveway. Diazinon was the answer until they banned it. I've tried almost all the alternatives and none seemed to work until I used this...
https://www.amazon.com/Advanced-700270-Complete-Concentrate-40-Ounce/dp/B001DKEOK8/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&hvadid=77928017475962&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvqmt=e&keywords=bayer+advanced+complete+insect+killer&qid=1596311928&sr=8-2&tag=mh0b-20

Just apply a band around the driveway, where it is edged.

It's also available in granular form.