Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Help Fireants!!!!

Does anyone know of anything that can be used to control fireants around the pond that won't harm fish or wildlife if it gets in the water? These don't have mounds, They just wonder around trying to find something to bite. The ground all around the pond is crawling when you look at it close.

I have good luck with this stuff:

http://www.amdro.com/Amdro/index.html

It doesn't take much, just don't let your pets eat it. I put a little near the ants and cover it to keep the dog out.

I learned an interesting tidbit of information while visiting the Lusk Lodge. Bob had several large colonies of red ants along a pathway to the catfish pond. Someone (can't remember who) told Bob that he should erradicate them. Bob said that he liked the large red ants because they will not tolerate fire ants in their area. He said that although red ants bite their bite is not nearly as painful as fire ants.

I had never heard that red ants go after fire ants before.

I don't think red ants would have a chance aginst these. They have the advantage of stregth in numbers. I looked at the lable to that amdro and it says that it is toxic to fish and Most of the ants are within 15 feet of the water. I tried putting over and out on the backside of the pond dam to see if maybe they would find it and kill some of them. I don't think it helped any.

jsand13, the thing is I only use a few tablespoons of Amdro to kill a whole colony. I don't see how that amount would effect your pond unless the fish actually ate the granules.

I have been using some new stuff from Dupont. It is called Advion and works much faster than Amdro. I have an allergic reaction to those critters and try to stay on top of new colonies.

Thanks Bar0, I'll check out Advion.

A friend, a PhD from Texas A & M, did some tests of different insecticides on my place. According to him, nothing really worked.

True!

Red ants easily dispatch fire ants with 1 bite. Even the little "crazy ants" kill fire ants and drive them out of an area. But be careful what you wish for. They can be pests too.

Texas A&M is working on a tiny parisite fly that kills fire ants. Haven't checked on it in a while, hope the project is advancing.

We've used a 50:50 mix of sugar and borax to take out other ants. Don't know if it will work on fire ants. (hope I never have to find out)