jaxs
Elite Member
Once people get a hard on for something (Fire Ants in this case) and fail on first attempt to get rid of it nostrils flare,eyes narrow and jaws lock on the bits. Scorched earth crusade ensues leaving little chance of turning them around. Broadcasting poison of ANY KIND for ANYTHING is not only ineffective it's irresponsible. The fact problem is still as bad after 10 years as when it began should tell you it's time to take a different approach. I'll give the exterminator a pass for squirting everything in sight because that's what customers expect and to do otherwise would cost exterminators their business. Use the approach I'm explaining and I promise a noticeable improvement within 2 years and a new convert by the 3rd year. You will use less poison in 10 years as you presently use in 1 year,spend far less time and have better results. Timing is 95% of the battle so patience and vigilance is of paramount importance. If you must, continuing to squirt your choice of product all over your property will not diminish the effect of doing as I reccomend as long as you do as I say at the time I say. The brief window for treatment occurs when fresh earth mounds are worked up following heavy rainfall. Ideally rain will cease late afternoon to mid-night and fresh mounds are visible 1-3 hours after sunrise. To see if time is right,open a mound to make certain eggs and winged reproductives are present. DO NOT DISTURB REMAINING MOUNDS OTHER THAN AS DIRECTED BELOW. Mix contact kill insecticide (bifenthrin that has been mentioned is a good choice) as directed in sprayer. Pump up to high pressure and set noozle to stream that can pernitrate mound. Holding nozzle a few inches from mound,inject 1-2 oz in each of 5-6 places on half basketball size, more or less places according to size of mound. Opening mound following day should not reveal any live ants but same number of eggs observed earlier when active mound was opened. Leave remaining mounds undisturbed to maximize insecticide gassing inside mound in the event stragglers. Our hope is that queen(s) were killed in the surprise attack. SURPRISE ATTACK is key,that's why mounds should not be disturbed before and during treatment. Pay close attention what happens when test mound is opened. Workers immediately start moving eggs and winged reproductive to safty below ground. Queens occasionally escape but not many and not often. Escapees most likely hadn't been moved to mound or had already been moved from mound at time of treatment but a few might be evacuated. As witnessed by low number of mounds which reappear compared to other treatments the mortality rate is extremely high. Time of year (Spring is best,Fall is good,mild winter can work and Summer poor.) ,amount of rain ,ambient temperature and window of time treated,success varies but always good in worst case. I believe you will be sold after the first treatment but like anything else some of us can screw up wet dreams. This month's weather pattern will afford opportunity so I would appreciate reports.
