Re: OT: Fire Ants
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: Re: OT: Fire Ants
- From: C* S* <s*@eden.com>
- Date: Wed, 28 May 1997 19:49:57 -0600 (MDT)
It seems I touched a nerve with the "diesel" treatment for fire ants.
Let me restate/clarify. The BEST treatment we have found for invidual
fire ant mounds in rural areas (ie no houses within 3 miles) is a cup of
diesel fuel. I am very environmentally sensitive with regard to the
water supply and surrounding vegetation. In fact, in our fields in
cultivation we use only organic pesticides and simply tolerate the ants
and the pain they inflict!
That said, however, the diesel fuel does not kill the queen it simply
makes the area uninhabitable for the mound and they move. By treating
the areas only around the house, over time it seems to deter further
mounds for that year. Unfortunately, LOGIC does the same thing, you
have only fooled yourself into thinking that the mound is gone, it has
simply moved.
Finally, I do not recommend diesel for urban areas. Hope this allays
some concerns.
Cliff Snyder Austin, Tx
Rainbow Iris Farm
PS. The Jarrell tornadoes passed within 5 miles of the farm, but we only
got 2 1/2" of rain and 10 minutes of golf ball hail. As of this evening
there are 27 dead and 23 missing. They fear the 23 missing may never be
found. I was told a pickup truck was found over 1 mile away from the
storm. If the death toll rises to 50, then Jarrell will have lost 10%
of its population in less than 5 minutes. Jarrell was hit by a similar,
but less powerful storm in 1989 that only killed 1. It is a tragedy we
did not think would ever be repeated. Our prayers are with them.
