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Author Topic: Amdro and Fire Ants  (Read 19142 times)

Offline BlueBee

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Amdro and Fire Ants
« on: December 24, 2011, 03:10:00 pm »
Can you ever defeat the fire ants in the south?  Fire Ants =  :evil: :evil: :evil:

I bought some AMDRO a while back thinking I might use some around my hives, but I haven’t used it yet.  Not too many ant problems here and I didn’t want to risk poisoning the bees.  Anybody know if Bees are likely to try to collect the AMDRO granules?
« Last Edit: December 25, 2011, 07:48:58 pm by buzzbee »

Offline lakeman

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Re: Amdro and Fire Ants
« Reply #1 on: December 24, 2011, 03:23:31 pm »
Can you ever defeat the fire ants in the south?  Fire Ants =  :evil: :evil: :evil:

I bought some AMDRO a while back thinking I might use some around my hives, but I haven’t used it yet.  Not too many ant problems here and I didn’t want to risk poisoning the bees.  Anybody know if Bees are likely to try to collect the AMDRO granules?


The fire ants eat only oil (most all plants and animals contain oil, as in fat and vegetable oil) , and they then convert it to ant food to feed to the young ants as bees feed their young. The amdro is just grits (a southern delicacy) soaked in oil, and an ant poison. The ants take it into their burrows, eat it and convert it to what they feed their young, which slowly kills the ant hill, as they do not produce any new adults. It does work if used properly.
« Last Edit: December 25, 2011, 07:50:50 pm by buzzbee »
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Offline nietssemaj

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Re: Amdro and Fire Ants
« Reply #2 on: December 24, 2011, 04:08:44 pm »
I've been told (by the local extension office) that bee's can pick up AMDRO. They recommended covering the ant hill with a tarp or large sheet of plastic until they've taken all the AMDRO into the hive.
« Last Edit: December 25, 2011, 07:51:06 pm by buzzbee »

Offline lakeman

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Re: Amdro and Fire Ants
« Reply #3 on: December 24, 2011, 04:51:07 pm »
I've been told (by the local extension office) that bee's can pick up AMDRO. They recommended covering the ant hill with a tarp or large sheet of plastic until they've taken all the AMDRO into the hive.

Normally you spread Amdro on your whole property (homeplace) at the rate of a pound per acre, which it is reccomennded to use a hand held garden broadcast spreader (the plastic garden/yard type), set at it's lowest setting, as the ants travel in undergropund burrows they have dug up to a couple of hundred feet long in all directions around their mound/coloney seeking food. If you are afraid of the bees picking it up, you would be better to treat just the mound, and cover with a tarp.
But the problem then is that you will only destroy that mound/coloney, and you have many more ant homes/burrow/villages/coloneys, what ever you want to call them, that exsist without making a mound. You have more ants that do not make a mound, than you have that do make mounds. and the only way to reallly control the fire ant is to spread the bait over the whole property.
I have had neighbors say they do not have fire ants, because they do not see any mounds. Well, they are badly mistaken, if you live in my area, you do have fire ants, unless you treat both spring and fall with Amdro, or a similer bait. They are just not building any mounds where you are seeing them. If you live im my area, and do not treat for them systamatically, I can find fire ants on your property, and if your neighbors do not treat regularly, you are constantly being reinfested by their ants colonys.
Also if you live in an area that is to cold for them, they will eventually get to you, as they become acustomed to the cold and adjust, as it is natures way.
It may help some, that they have released an imported fly, that lays an egg in their head, which kills them (if the cure does not turn out to be worse than the ant).
I am told the armadillo, is slowly adjusting to the weather, and moving into our area, which I understand they are ant eaters, maybe they will be a godsend for us here.
« Last Edit: December 25, 2011, 07:51:25 pm by buzzbee »
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Offline BlueBee

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Re: Amdro and Fire Ants
« Reply #4 on: December 24, 2011, 06:19:02 pm »
Quote
I am told the armadillo, is slowly adjusting to the weather, and moving into our area, which I understand they are ant eaters, maybe they will be a godsend for us here.
But aren’t Armadillos implicated in carrying Leprosy?   http://www.care2.com/causes/armadillos-can-transfer-leprosy-to-humans.html

It’s always something.  

Good info about the habits of fireants, Lakeman.   I didn’t realize you had to kill more than just the mound.  We don’t have Fireants in Michigan, but I did live in Florida for a while so I know what a pain they can be.
« Last Edit: December 25, 2011, 07:51:39 pm by buzzbee »

Offline Intheswamp

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Re:Amdro and Fire Ants
« Reply #5 on: December 24, 2011, 06:53:49 pm »
All you are going to do is kill the ones in the treated area or kill the mound that is spot treated.  Years ago I broadcast a treatment over my yard (not bee yard, just the yard at home).  For two years fire ants would come up to the edge of the treated area and stop.  Slowly, as the pesticide broke down, the fire ants began their reclamation of the yard.  :-x  Basically all I'm hoping to do is create a zone around my hives that is mostly ant free.  I've got to reassess the situation and once the weather system that is on us giving a good bit of rain I'll treat the mounds...it won't be a broadcast type of application but rather a spot treatment.  I have two hills that have popped up after I set up my little nuc a month ago...these are within probably 12 feet of the hive.  If the temperature stays up and once the rains stop I won't be surprised at more mounds popping up.  I don't like the poisons, but dealing with fire ants is a different story...if you've never had to deal with them count yourself blessed.

Merry Christmas!!!
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« Last Edit: December 25, 2011, 07:51:55 pm by buzzbee »
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Offline AllenF

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Re: Amdro and Fire Ants
« Reply #6 on: December 25, 2011, 09:29:15 pm »
What ever happened to the good old days where when you cutting the grass and hit a mound, it was then time to go get a drink and let the mower run a bit while on top of the ant mound.    :evil:

Offline bud1

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Re: Amdro and Fire Ants
« Reply #7 on: December 26, 2011, 08:45:33 am »
allan, i know what happened when you came back to the lawn mower. i keep a big container of ortho on my scooter and in my truck.  i kill every mound around my hives; there are still plenty roming around, but dont bother them till i see a line going up my hive stands or wagons, then i just put some on the lines where they leave the ground.
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Offline Poppi

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Re: Amdro and Fire Ants
« Reply #8 on: December 26, 2011, 05:55:55 pm »
Armadillo all over Florida...  no dent in fire ant population that I ever heard...     They are here to stay!

Offline JP

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Re: Amdro and Fire Ants
« Reply #9 on: December 26, 2011, 06:14:42 pm »
Amdro is intended to treat individual ant mounds. Its an okay product at best in my experience. If you do decide to use a product that treats individual mounds check the area for another mound or one forming. There are usually more than one.

Best product that I have used and currently use is Talstar PL. One 25lb bag will treat an acre so you are likely to get a whole lot of use out of one bag. Its a broadcast treatment product and will keep fire ants away for about 3 months, sometimes longer. I treat around my hives and out away some. My hives are all about 1.5' off the ground on racks and I haven't had any issues with the bees being affected by the product.


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Offline asprince

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Re: Amdro and Fire Ants
« Reply #10 on: December 26, 2011, 07:30:42 pm »
JP, we have our share of fire ants here but I don't think they are the ones attacking my hives. Some have called them Argentine ants? Will the Talstar PL work on them?


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Offline JP

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Re: Amdro and Fire Ants
« Reply #11 on: December 27, 2011, 02:42:41 am »
Steve it could possibly keep them away but I'm not 100% certain on that. I target fire ants with it.


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Offline AllenF

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Re: Amdro and Fire Ants
« Reply #12 on: December 27, 2011, 05:47:02 pm »
Active Ingredient: Bifenthrin - 0.20%

DESCRIPTION: Talstar Granules (Talstar PL) are used to control Ants (including Imported Fire Ants), roaches, spiders, fleas, ticks, worms, crickets, and almost all other insect pests on lawns, in landscaped areas and gardens, and perimeters of residential, institutional, public, commercial and industrial buildings, parks, recreational areas and athletic fields. Talstar granules release chemical over time as it rains. One application of Talstar granules can protect your lawn areas for 2 to 3 months. It is safe against non-target animals such as birds, pets, and other mammals.

Offline AllenF

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Re: Amdro and Fire Ants
« Reply #13 on: December 27, 2011, 05:48:54 pm »
I wonder if you can use it instead if Gardstar for SHB if you water it in?     May help with the sugar ants.   They are my problem.

Offline Intheswamp

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Re: Amdro and Fire Ants
« Reply #14 on: December 27, 2011, 09:33:45 pm »
I guess it would matter whether the insect has to ingest the poison or whether simple contact will kill the insect.  Permethrin/Gardstar is a contact killer but I'm not sure about Talstar...whether the bug has to eat something with it on it or not.  I don't know whether the SHB eat anything in or on the ground but they very well may.  Just some thoughts...and more questions. :)

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American blood spilled to protect the freedom and peace of people all over the world.  320,000 USA casualties in WWI, 1,076,000 USA casualties in WWII, 128,000 USA casualties in the Korean War, 211,000 casualties in the Vietnam "conflict", 57,000 USA casualties in "War on Terror".  Benghazi, Libya, 13 USA casualties. These figures don't include 70,000 MIA.  But, the leaders of one political party of the United States of America continue to make the statement..."What difference does it make?".

"We can't expect the American People to jump from Capitalism to Communism, but we can assist their elected leaders in giving them small doses of Socialism, until they awaken one day to find that they have Communism."..."The press is our chief ideological weapon." - Nikita Khrushchev

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Offline AllenF

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Re: Amdro and Fire Ants
« Reply #15 on: December 27, 2011, 09:45:38 pm »
It is listed for ticks so that tells me it kills on contact.   

Offline Intheswamp

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Re: Amdro and Fire Ants
« Reply #16 on: December 27, 2011, 09:54:42 pm »
Good info, Allen.  Even if it doesn't work on the shb it'd be worth it if it takes out the fire ants and sugar ants.  I've been sprinkling some cinnamon on the top of the inner cover and it seems to be keeping the little black ants away from the syrup jar at least.  :-\

Ed
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American blood spilled to protect the freedom and peace of people all over the world.  320,000 USA casualties in WWI, 1,076,000 USA casualties in WWII, 128,000 USA casualties in the Korean War, 211,000 casualties in the Vietnam "conflict", 57,000 USA casualties in "War on Terror".  Benghazi, Libya, 13 USA casualties. These figures don't include 70,000 MIA.  But, the leaders of one political party of the United States of America continue to make the statement..."What difference does it make?".

"We can't expect the American People to jump from Capitalism to Communism, but we can assist their elected leaders in giving them small doses of Socialism, until they awaken one day to find that they have Communism."..."The press is our chief ideological weapon." - Nikita Khrushchev

"Always go to other people’s funerals, otherwise they wont come to yours." - Yogi Berra

Offline rwurster

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Re: Amdro and Fire Ants
« Reply #17 on: December 28, 2011, 03:22:47 am »
I've used amdro with great success around all my hives.  As I remember, the instructions said to dump a certain amount on or near an entrance.  I don't remember there being broadcasting instructions.  The ants typically take all the bait directly into the hive within minutes.  I did cover a few of the spot treatments with a piece of wood so no animals would get into it but the ants will drag the bait into their nest at a surprising rate.  It worked well on ants that don't make a mound and on some wood loving ants also.
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Offline Intheswamp

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Re: Amdro and Fire Ants
« Reply #18 on: December 28, 2011, 12:24:16 pm »
rwurster, do you have fire ants in your part of Colorado or were you treating another type of ant?  It looks like the USDA map for fire ants doesn't place them in Colorado and that's the government so ya gotta trust them, right?  :roll:

JP, I agree that Amdro is a spot/mound treatment and not a broadcast treatment.  I may just have to get some of that Talstar PL.  The deal was good on the Amdro, but living in the south I'm game to try something new on them that has a good reference. ;)

Amdro also has a "ant block" or "house block" line that is intended to be used as a perimeter guard around the outside of your house.  I can't remember the active ingredient in Amdro, but the "block" version has a higher percentage in it.

Ed
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American blood spilled to protect the freedom and peace of people all over the world.  320,000 USA casualties in WWI, 1,076,000 USA casualties in WWII, 128,000 USA casualties in the Korean War, 211,000 casualties in the Vietnam "conflict", 57,000 USA casualties in "War on Terror".  Benghazi, Libya, 13 USA casualties. These figures don't include 70,000 MIA.  But, the leaders of one political party of the United States of America continue to make the statement..."What difference does it make?".

"We can't expect the American People to jump from Capitalism to Communism, but we can assist their elected leaders in giving them small doses of Socialism, until they awaken one day to find that they have Communism."..."The press is our chief ideological weapon." - Nikita Khrushchev

"Always go to other people’s funerals, otherwise they wont come to yours." - Yogi Berra

Offline JP

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Re: Amdro and Fire Ants
« Reply #19 on: December 28, 2011, 01:40:06 pm »
It is listed for ticks so that tells me it kills on contact.   

Its a contact kill but also a repellant.


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