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Re: Ants in compost

At 11:00 AM 2/6/97 -0500, Shirley Lindsey wrote:
>According to the U.S Dept. of Agriculture, there are absolutely no
>benefits to fire ants.
>These things can produce scars that last for years, they can cause
>allergic reactions in those who are sensitive, and, if sufficient numbers
>attack, can kill a small animal. This has happened to new-born calves
>born in pastures. Also, when it rains, the fire ants can be washed into
>farm ponds, the fish will eat them, and the ant will sting from the
>inside and the fish will die.
>Yes, they eat fleas, but they also eat beneficial insects such as ladybugs.
>Fire ants are bad, bad, bad---kill'em!
>
>Shirley Lindsey                                 slindsey@datasys.net
>Valdosta, GA
>zone 8
>
Well, Shirly, I agree with most of what you've said, however, cotton
farmers have found that the little buggers love boll weevils and are
_somewhat_ beneficial in that regard.
Also, fire ants do not seem to like (at least in my experience) soil which
has a high organic content.  The only place they exist in my suburban plot
is in the alley which is left to fend for itself.   They never show up in
my garden, my flower beds or my lawn.
They never bite me (maybe I'm too ugly for them or something) but they
_love_ my spouse,and she is very sensitive to their bites.   Sure she
shares your sentiments and, for her sake, I do too.
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