ants dont actually eat solids, they feed it to their larvae, which eat the solids.

Hmmm...I've heard that suggestion before, and have also heard it's a 'wive's tale'. Did you see the mound die after doing this?

I've used the fire ant baits although I haven't really followed or observed the after-effects. It usually requires at least a couple of applications.
And my biggest worry about baits is not knowing if they also kill off the 'good' ants.

Did you know that there are online ant chatrooms? Lots of ant enthusiasts here:

Here is a link that might be useful: The Ant Farm

I don't know if the grits work, but I have a cousin that uses it for fire ants on their farm in Seguin, and she keeps telling me it works, but I have never tried it. I did try something for cut ants, I went to Lowes in Aransas to get something to kill them, and was told that nothing there would kill them. I would need to go and get old fashion oatmeal, and put that out. I went and bought a hugh box, and spread it in the bed before we left, the bed was covered with oats. Last week we went down, it was the first time I had leaves on plants in that bed, and no sign of the oatmeal. I do not know what it did to the ants, maybe just fed them. I do know that it was the first time we came and my plants had leaves. We are going back in 2 weeks, then I will know if it killed them or just fed them. It was worth trying, but I will not know until we go back. Some of the old remedys do work, My father was a farmer, and he used self rising flour, to control tomato worms, and I know that works. So who knows until they try it I am all for natural remedys since I have small dogs that dig in my yard. I use cornmeal for tomato virus, and black spot, and I know that works. Barbra,

I've had good luck dumping copious amounts of coffee grounds on the undisturbed mounds.

Pick up "grounds for the garden" at Starbucks so you'll have enough.

I doubt you've seen any dead fire ants after treating a mound with grits. That would be because it doesn't kill them.

If you want to kill the whole mound, including their evil devils spawn and the queens of darkness too, cover the active mound with a bucket or barrel and leave it for a week or two. They will build their evil empire above ground including the nurseries, queen's lairs and cafeterias.
Mix a cup of orange oil with a gallon of water, add 1/4 cup of molasses and 1 tsp of dish detergent and mix it up good.

Then when you feel the moon and stars allign for the fire ant's day of reckonning is here, carefully lift the bucket straight up and off the mound. you don't want to spook them into heading for the netherworld with mamma and the kids before the shower of death.

Take your gallon bucket and pour the rain of death down on the center of the mound and work it to the outside edges. Sometimes I make two gallons just to make sure I get them all especially the queens. I also like to make sure I have enough to catch the ones who do make it down the escape routes. In a couple of hours you can come back and find thousands of their miserable little dead carcasses laying around where the mound used to be. You won't get this much joy with grits, trust me on this one. Cheryl

I use an orange oil solution too. You do need to be careful getting it on your plants though. I've had success with leaving boric acid lures around as well.

Boric Acid Ant Lure

2 cups water
3 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp Boric Acid

I put the mixed solution in used milk/juice/soda caps and they sure do love it. You can buy pure boric acid at Ace Hardware.

My method is to do the orange oil on the mounds I find and leave plenty of lures around outside. I'll have to try that bucket tactic.

Cheryl, come to think of it, I have never seen a dead ant. I use that stuff that comes in an orange bag for fire ants. I sprinkle it, and the next day they are gone. Now, I wonder if they are dead, or if they have just moved. We have several bottles of the orange oil, my husband uses it for something in the yard. I will try it, I can't wait to see dead ants. I wonder if it would work on cut ants? I always find them, by just following their trail, but they do not have a mound, just an opening in the ground. Barbra,

Not trying to hijack the thread, but, gurgler, do you think your ant bait would work for the small ants that sometimes invade the house?

I use mostly organic approaches to gardening, including a lot of mulch, and the ants I used to see out in the gardens and patios have now become a pest inside. We hired an exterminator last week and have had a decrease, but not elimination.

Your lures sound like a good thing to try. Ever used it on something like what some call sugar ants? These are black but about that size.

I hope it's alright if I jump in here about those pesky little ants that get in the house. I remember those little black 'sugar ants' from when I was a kid. My grandmother would set the legs of the kitchen table in a can of water to keep them out of the sugar bowl.

But for about the last 15 years, I've been PLAGUED with tan ants that are about the same size which are also called 'sugar ants' and sometimes called 'pharaoh ants.' Occasionally I'd find their nests in the house; perhaps in a lamp base or in small boxes, nooks and crannies or appliances that hadn't been used for awhile.

According to the link below sugar ants go for the boric acid bait. I concur as I've used such baits and several others and it eliminates them for awhile, but they always came back. Then a couple of years ago, after reading on here about how orange oil was used against fire ants, I started spraying the kitchen and bathroom counter tops, window sills and around electric outlets with an orange oil solution that was prepared from the concentrate purchased at a garden store. The premixed kind you buy in the grocery stores is probably too weak.

Voila! I haven't seen an ant in the house since! Now I just use orange oil as a kitchen counter spray every few days. I can't believe it was SO EASY after using so many baits, professional and home-made, for years!

What a relief not to have those little ants all over every crumb in the kitchen or coming for water in the bathrooms.

Here is a link that might be useful: Getting rid of sugar ants

Thanks Roselee, I'll give Orange Oil a try. A few days ago we got some "Fanatastik" with orange oil in it, but, like you say, it may not be strong enough. Are there instructions for diluting it for ants on the orange oil container?

The other link looked like it had some good ideas too. We'll give them the ol one-two punch!

Thanks

The only thing I have found that works for fire ants long-term is beneficial nematodes.

Have ya'll heard the new commercial on the radio about fire ants? It's hysterical. I think it's for orthene.

They aren't salt tolerant! Ike may have killed all the toads and worms in my yard but he also got most of the snails and fireants.
Tally HO!

Tally, My 8 year old LOVES that ad!

In these fine economic times, David Powers has gone out of business and left 1 house and 2 lots unattended on our street alone. The neighbors all got together this week and mowed, trimmed, mulched the house and vacant lots, but were unable to do anything with about 4 HUGE ant mounds.

They're too big to cover with a bucket. Since they're that high above ground any way, do you think the orange oil drench would work, Seamommy? Also, since this is my first year of trying to do the organic thing as far as lawns are concerned, can you tell me, are we talking molasses syrup or a dried/ground type and where the orange oil is cheapest?

Never mind, went on the Urban Harvest, dirtdoctor, and A&M websites and answered my own questions

Yes, I also use the boric acid lures inside if I get them in the house. We mop with an orange oil soution and dust with diatomaceous earth for in the house insect control.

My goodness Cheryl, I had no idea you were such a vengeful person. lol The only good fireant is a dead fireant, right?