A huge problem in Florida are fire ants. Fire ants are a variety of stinging ants, and oh do they sting! If you're unlucky enough to step onto an ant hill, the ants can swarm up your leg in seconds and do some serious damage. They can also critically injure or even kill a small animal.
 |
| Very cute small animal owned by author |
So you can imagine, that having fire ant hills makes me quite nervous.
Ants are some of the most industrious insects in existence. Almost overnight, a huge ant hill can pop up.
 |
| One of many huge ant hills that popped up overnight. |
Luckily, from much experience, I always have some very powerful ant hill killer on hand that will take care of this.
 |
| Very powerful ant hill killer |
The theory is that you sprinkle the very powerful ant hill killer on the hill and the ants will eat the powerful ant hill killer and bring it back to the queen who will then drop dead. The ant hill will then just be washed away by the next rain or by the wind.
 |
| Ant hill sprinkled with very powerful ant hill killer. |
In my world of course, the ants just become annoyed and move a few feet down and start a new ant hill the next day. It becomes a battle that can never be won.
Many people have told me home remedies for ant hills. I was told to pour boiling water on an active hill. I boiled the water, carefully carried it outside, poured it on the hill and absolutely nothing happened. I also was told to pour vinegar on a hill. This was really scary. When I poured the vinegar the ants went crazy and left the hill and starting chasing me.
We also have enough frogs and geckos around that should be feasting on all the ants and mosquitos. But the frogs that hang around my house seem to have other things to do.
 |
| Sleeping frog couldn't care less about ants. |
So in conclusion, just like the weeds, the ants seem to have won the battles so far. But the war is still on!
Back in 1980 (were you even born yet?!) our family went to FL (we live in OH). One day we drove to Wet 'n Wild. It's probably no longer there. On the way, my oldest daughter was stung by a bee that flew into the car. I took her to the first aide station at Wet 'n Wild and the nurse kept asking me "are you sure it wasn't a red ant?" over and over. Could never understand why she was so concerned over a red ant.
ReplyDeleteYes Glorida, I was definitely alive during the 80's!
ReplyDeleteRed ants are nasty. One bite can really hurt but you have to watch out for an army of them attacking. They have enough venom(?) to kill a small animal or child (if they're allergic).
well randi... my husband takes his welding torch and goes mound to mound... he enjoys that a little too much i might add... but... itwon't be long til they are back again.. evil little demons
ReplyDelete