Forums36
Topics41,065
Posts559,104
Members18,565
|
Most Online3,612 Jan 10th, 2023
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,488 Likes: 2
Lunker
|
OP
Lunker
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,488 Likes: 2 |
I made an interesting observation in my back yard yesterday. I treated my lawn with Extinguish Plus (a bait for fire-ants) and then bent down on hands and knees to watch the foraging workers collect the bait - while eagerly awaiting their doom. While watching them at such close range, I noticed a very small fly "dive bombing" the foraging fire-ants - and the ants became highly agitated each time the fly "tagged them". It was quite comical, since I hate fire-ants. After watching this process occur several times, I finally realized that the fly was doing more than simply molesting the ants - which prompted me to do a Google-search. Low and behold, we now have a fire-ant parasitic fly. Hallelujah!! Send more!!! New phorid fly species turns red imported fire ants into 'zombies'
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 68
|
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 68 |
Hey put some in a box and send them up this way...
Give a few country boys a little money, beer, an arc welder and power tools and great things can happen...or someone is going to the hospital or jail.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,670 Likes: 887
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
|
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,670 Likes: 887 |
O.K. Kelly, inquiring minds want to know. Was that one that you saw P. tricuspis or P. curvatis?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,435
Ambassador Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
|
Ambassador Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,435 |
Kelly, i saw a show on TV about these flys. They really are cool - they seem to zap the ant right in the neck.
Just do it...
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 352
|
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 352 |
Mixing fire ants from two or more mounds is another form of bio-control that will often work. When I notice a few mounds in the yard, I'll use a shovel to transport portions of each mound to other mounds. Sometimes, mixing 3 or more mounds together. Within 2 or 3 days, the ants are all dead. Occasionally, a colony might have enough survivors to begin rebuilding the mound, and I'll have to seek out more enemy troops from another mound outside of the yard's perimeter. In these cases, I have to run with the shovel full of ants, in order to reach the target area before the ants can crawl up the shovel's handle.
I learned of this method from an old farmer, who would drag his fields in order to mix-up fire ant mounds. His drag consisted of chain link fencing material, weighted with old automobile tires.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,090 Likes: 285
Moderator Lunker
|
Moderator Lunker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,090 Likes: 285 |
That old farmer didn't need a PhD to make it work.
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 908 Likes: 9
Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
|
Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 908 Likes: 9 |
I've done little or no fire ant control over the last few years and have noticed a considerable decrease in their mounds in the last year or so, actually, greater than a 50% decrease.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,488 Likes: 2
Lunker
|
OP
Lunker
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,488 Likes: 2 |
I've done little or no fire ant control over the last few years and have noticed a considerable decrease in their mounds in the last year or so, actually, greater than a 50% decrease. Dudley - This imported parasitic fly may be responsible for the RIFA decline at your place, since nothing else besides winter temperatures seems to limit their spread.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,488 Likes: 2
Lunker
|
OP
Lunker
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,488 Likes: 2 |
O.K. Kelly, inquiring minds want to know. Was that one that you saw P. tricuspis or P. curvatis? Based on the originally linked article, I'd say neither - since the fly that I observed was parasitizing a foraging worker.... "Previously released phorid flies only preyed on ants in disturbed mounds. In contrast, the species, Pseudacteon obtusus, that Ludwig released in April is attracted to foraging red imported fire ants and not disturbed mounts."
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 141
|
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 141 |
One of the greatest pastimes at our property is riding around on a golf cart with my five year old son driving over fire ant mounds.
We do it with regularity and I have noticed a real reduction in the number of mounds and the size of the mounds.
To Hell with Georgia...
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 908 Likes: 9
Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
|
Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 908 Likes: 9 |
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,537 Likes: 279
Moderator Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
|
Moderator Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,537 Likes: 279 |
I second that nomination !
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,488 Likes: 2
Lunker
|
OP
Lunker
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,488 Likes: 2 |
I sent an email to Dr. Ludwig to report my fly observation - and copied it to B Higginbotham, also at Agrilife Ext in Overton. Unfortunately, Dr. Higginbotham replied today that Dr. Ludwig has "moved on" since that article was published. So, I guess he'll have to forfeit your nomination Dudley.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,187 Likes: 29
|
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,187 Likes: 29 |
I hear that "Crazy Ants" will bring an end to Fire Ants, just their spread is terrifically slow, and annoying.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 908 Likes: 9
Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
|
Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 908 Likes: 9 |
Kelly, it looks like our engine done squealed and conked out before we got to the runway.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 20,043 Likes: 1
Hall of Fame Lunker
|
Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 20,043 Likes: 1 |
Unfortunately, Dr. Higginbotham replied today that Dr. Ludwig has "moved on" since that article was published. So, I guess he'll have to forfeit your nomination Dudley.
As in past away or just actually moved on?
If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,488 Likes: 2
Lunker
|
OP
Lunker
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,488 Likes: 2 |
Unfortunately, Dr. Higginbotham replied today that Dr. Ludwig has "moved on" since that article was published. So, I guess he'll have to forfeit your nomination Dudley.
As in past away or just actually moved on? Moving to a different employer was the implication that I detected.
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,765 Likes: 34
|
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,765 Likes: 34 |
Me for president!?!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 908 Likes: 9
Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
|
Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 908 Likes: 9 |
You might be the man, Ludwig. Critical question though. Are you capable of borrowing and spending a trillion dollars in one week? If not, the job we have in mind is simply not for you.
Actually, if you own a billion ponds, the spending should be easy. The other word could present a problem for you.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 20,043 Likes: 1
Hall of Fame Lunker
|
Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 20,043 Likes: 1 |
Unfortunately, Dr. Higginbotham replied today that Dr. Ludwig has "moved on" since that article was published. So, I guess he'll have to forfeit your nomination Dudley.
As in past away or just actually moved on? Moving to a different employer was the implication that I detected. Profs publish or perish. Very dog eat dog at many universities.
If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,488 Likes: 2
Lunker
|
OP
Lunker
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,488 Likes: 2 |
FYI: A very cool documentary on the Phorid fly program (for fire ant control) now showing on the NAT GEO channel.
|
|
|
Moderated by Bill Cody, Bruce Condello, catmandoo, Chris Steelman, Dave Davidson1, esshup, ewest, FireIsHot, Omaha, Sunil, teehjaeh57
There are no members with birthdays on this day. |
|
|
|