Common Red Ant Removal

Post Reply New Topic

Fill their nests with molten aluminum, dig out, then watch the money flow

yup

How did the removal go? If any of the suggested methods failed, might I suggest strong black coffee? Caffeine is a very toxic substance to a surprisingly long list of creatures, ants included.

I couldn't do it.. when I lifted what was the capstone for their top level egg chamber and watched the entire nest take action, that image stayed with me.

I usually stay away from ants because, well, they have a right to their existence too and I just hate killing, but the fire ants in our yard got too much and my youngest got swarmed, so I poured boiling water on them.
It's depressing watching the survivors pile the dead up around the holes. (We'd do the aluminum, but they build their nests in the cracks in the asphalt, not very easy to dig up). My dad used to be able to get this one type of poison that took care of them real quick, but they apparently made it illegal :/

They piled their dead up around the holes!

I hate killing anything & keep wussing out of this task.

The spot where they are located is going to lead to people being stung, I have agreed to make a patio area within 10 foot of the nest, and re-landscape the flower bed that contains this nest. I believe in co existing with nature, but the risk of my loved ones being stung negates this.

Believe me, I understand what you mean; I'm an amateur entomologist, with much love for the alien world just below our feet. But I'm also educated as a hunter, almost specifically to de-Disney my view of nature. Co-existence is great. Co-existence is beautiful. But you co-exist with species, not with individuals (considering how eusocial insects like ants function, a nest might as well be viewed as one individual). You are not killing the entire population of red ants, you are killing one nest of red ants that is a threat. This killing is not unjustified. Just as you would not let a rabid badger nest in your living room, so you shouldn't let a nest of earthbound wasps nest on you patio. I hope that was encouraging to some degree.

^^^

if it is a choice between the loved ones or the dear little ants, the loves ones must take priority.

Thanks folks...

'A nest of earthbound wasps on my patio', those words created a motivational mental image, yikes!