Europe may be in Trouble: Fire ants in Italy

[74-911]

If your area doesn't have fire ants, consider yourself lucky. Impossible to get rid of.


https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/11/europe/invasive-red-fire-ant-europe-italy-scn/index.html

[The Synergizer]

We have our own invasive species problems!

[Tobra]

Fire ants really suck

I bet they would thrive in Italy's climate

[Norm K]

Getting bumped into by a fire-ant raft while wading in shallow flood waters can ruin your day.

_

[A930Rocket]

At work years ago, I nelt down by a 3 inch dead pine tree, to cut it down the chainsaw. I went to town and when I got up, I had all these black spots on my right knee/leg. Like a switch, they all fit me at once and I ended up 45 fire ant bites. The itching was awful.

[GH85Carrera]

I know it gets cold in Italy. Will winter stop them?

They are just now getting up into southern parts of Oklahoma. I wonder if that insane cold snap of a few years ago slowed them down much.

[74-911]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

I know it gets cold in Italy. Will winter stop them?

They are just now getting up into southern parts of Oklahoma. I wonder if that insane cold snap of a few years ago slowed them down much.

The cold snaps here didn't even slow them down! I don't think anything slows them down... when in a major drought such as now, they just go deep underground until the nest are barely visible... until you step on it! Also in the drought they start showing up inside houses...in particular they enter through the weep holes in brick siding.

[GH85Carrera]

I presume where frost heaves are common and long term cold where the ground freezes several feet down will stop them, but not much else will.

[creaturecat]

we have ‘em showing up in Vancouver. they are presently poisoning a colony in the park down the street.
i walk by there - big signage and caution tape. Dad lets the kids barge under the tape …… they start playing in the dirt …..
i had formerly talked to the fellow spreading the poison. ……. he got bit on the neck. said it hurt like hell

[Zeke]

I have some poison found in a house that is more than 50 years old. I won't say, but one dose per tiny spot at my house and no ants for years.

If I had an ant colony that went underground during the winter, that would be their final resting place. 2 drops.

[Ayles]

Originally Posted by Zeke

I have some poison found in a house that is more than 50 years old. I won't say, but one dose per tiny spot at my house and no ants for years.

If I had an ant colony that went underground during the winter, that would be their final resting place. 2 drops.

Does it start with a "D" and end with a "T"?

I saw some in a garage at an estate sale I went to not too long ago. Was surprised to see it.

[porsche930dude]

They suck we got a bit a bunch when going to visit relatives in Charolette. My mom still has a bump on her hand from 5 years ago. Another good reason not to move south

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Zeke

I have some poison found in a house that is more than 50 years old. I won't say, but one dose per tiny spot at my house and no ants for years.

If I had an ant colony that went underground during the winter, that would be their final resting place. 2 drops.

Just before I met my now wife, she bought a house that had a Elm tree in the front yard. She is allergic to Elm trees, so her dad cut it down, and hauled it away. He worked for the local power company, and used some super duper terminator "roundup" like poison on the stump. We met and got married a couple of years later. When I moved to her house and turned my house into a rental, I tried to plant grass where the stump was rotted away. Nothing at all would grow, it just died.

I had to dig out several inches of soil, and bring in new soil before Bermuda grass would grow there.

I have no idea what he used, but it was some sort of powerful, likely whatever is used in sub stations to keep weeds and trees from growing.

[ramonesfreak]

i was visiting new orleans and was in a cemetery eating a muffuletta sandwich and for some reason was wearing jeans. a hundred fire ants snuck up my pant legs so i had to get them off asap. awful. thankfully we do not have them here.

[flatbutt]

Fight fire ants with fire

[HobieMarty]

Originally Posted by ramonesfreak

i was visiting new orleans and was in a cemetery eating a muffuletta sandwich and for some reason was wearing jeans. a hundred fire ants snuck up my pant legs so i had to get them off asap. awful. thankfully we do not have them here.

The fire ants were the souls of the departed telling you to not be eating a muff in their sacred space

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