Ants in my compost

Hello,

I am in process of making my first compost using a tumble barrel type system.  I have a bunch of ants in it after the first day.  Is that unusual?

Mazzy

Soak the area with water. The ants will move on cause they don't like it.

Tumble the heck out of them, I bet they don't like that either

Mazzy's back!!!!

Not the end of the world, compost wise, unless they are red ants. Some times I find Argentine ant nurseries when I turn the compost. Every adult grabbing an egg or larva and scurrying around. If the tumbler is on legs, you could lightly sprinkle DE or talc-based baby powder around the feet.

Post some updates. We miss you.

Red Imported Fire Ants?  RIFA?  Yikes.    You have to do what you have to do!

I've seen the bites, and no thank you. Boiling water? These art castings show how intricate the colonies are.
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Ant+Hill+Metal+Sculpture&FORM=RESTAB

Just wanted to add my two cents about preventing ants from going to somewhere they want to be (but where you DON'T want them to be)....  I rub pure neem oil on their paths.  For example, with our hummingbird feeder and for our suet cages, rubbing neem oil on their supporting wires, etc.  keeps them at bay.  This process doesn't require mixing of stuff, so it's very convenient.  Works for me every time

Interesting. Thanks for the idea.

Windmere wrote:Just wanted to add my two cents about preventing ants from going to somewhere they want to be (but where you DON'T want them to be)....  I rub pure neem oil on their paths.  For example, with our hummingbird feeder and for our suet cages, rubbing neem oil on their supporting wires, etc.  keeps them at bay.  This process doesn't require mixing of stuff, so it's very convenient.  Works for me every time

How long does the neem work.  Does it was off with the rain. 

We are over run with ants in my yard.  I have used poison on hills on the outside of my garden.  Then used boiling water inside a bed when it becomes empty.  If it is not empty, I try cinnamon.  It will not kill them but many times they move out of the bed.  This year I am going to try the boric acid and corn syrup recipe.

yolos wrote:

Windmere wrote:Just wanted to add my two cents about preventing ants from going to somewhere they want to be (but where you DON'T want them to be)....  I rub pure neem oil on their paths.  For example, with our hummingbird feeder and for our suet cages, rubbing neem oil on their supporting wires, etc.  keeps them at bay.  This process doesn't require mixing of stuff, so it's very convenient.  Works for me every time

How long does the neem work.  Does it was off with the rain. 

We are over run with ants in my yard.  I have used poison on hills on the outside of my garden.  Then used boiling water inside a bed when it becomes empty.  If it is not empty, I try cinnamon.  It will not kill them but many times they move out of the bed.  This year I am going to try the boric acid and corn syrup recipe.

Well, for me, it lasts quite some time... months...  HOWEVER... our hummingbird feeder and our suet cage are under a porch or roof awning, so there is not problem with rain.  Depending on the consistency of the oil you use, I'm thinking longevity with rainy conditions might vary.  I have two kinds... one is very viscous, while the other is a bit "runny."  I use the thicker version for rubbing on wires.  The thicker one was more expensive and it stinks A LOT more.  Must be more concentrated I guess.

I actually bought some boric acid at the end of summer because of ants trying to get into our kitchen.  When a freak cold snap occurred, they went away on their own  (??).  I have the boric acid ready though!  Oddly, I found it hard to get boric acid.  The only place that had it around here was mom and pop pharmacy called Jones Pharmacy in Fayetteville.  Since you drive 85 from time to time, you pass it.

I found some Boric acid in Kroger last year.  They carry it in the aisle with the eye care products for some reason.  ????  (yes, I drive by Jones Pharmacy every day).

yolos wrote:I found some Boric acid in Kroger last year.  They carry it in the aisle with the eye care products for some reason.  ????  (yes, I drive by Jones Pharmacy every day).

Hey, you were lucky!  My Kroger pharmacist actually referred me to Jones 'cause he didn't have any.  Jones ain't cheap!  (Eye care???)

yolos wrote:I found some Boric acid in Kroger last year.  They carry it in the aisle with the eye care products for some reason.  ????  (yes, I drive by Jones Pharmacy every day).

My dad had an artificial eye, when he removed it nightly it was soaked in a solution of boric acid.

Just be careful with the boric acid does not build up in the growing beds.  Some plants are very sensitive to it.  I used to make a mix of boric acid and peanut butter and syrup and put it on nests.  Supposedly the workers will bring it to the queen to eat the tasty treat and the boric acid will kill her.

Ant - Pest Control

In SOCAL I doubt that you have Red Ants AKA Fire Ants.  Saturday we were working in the yard and I stepped in a Red Ant mound.  I had on flip flops.  My feet  have at least 2 dozen bites then I got bites on my hands brushing them off of my feet. 

Yesterday my feet were hurting so badly from the bites that I could not put on closed shoes.  This morning I popped the blisters with a sterile needle then treated them with peroxide, rubbing alcohol and antibiotic cream. 

I do not like using chemicals but when it comes to killing fire ants I show no mercy.  Beware - here comes the ORTHO.

FA's in my compost or garden beds present a problem.  ORTHO will kill the necessary microbes along with the ants.  I disturb the nest then douse it with boiling water.  They move to another area where I can attack them with the ORTHO.

Try boiling water.  It will at least make them move away from your compost.

Good luck

Ants are a problem on my hummingbird feeders.  I use plain petroleum jelly on the hanger.  I don't have to add anything to it.  The ants get suck and can not reach the feeder.  Same thing with the legs of patio furniture.  Adding Cayenne does not increase the effectiveness. 

Good luck

Elizabeth wrote:In SOCAL I doubt that you have Red Ants AKA Fire Ants.  Saturday we were working in the yard and I stepped in a Red Ant mound.  I had on flip flops.  My feet  have at least 2 dozen bites then I got bites on my hands brushing them off of my feet. 

Yesterday my feet were hurting so badly from the bites that I could not put on closed shoes.  This morning I popped the blisters with a sterile needle then treated them with peroxide, rubbing alcohol and antibiotic cream. 

I do not like using chemicals but when it comes to killing fire ants I show no mercy.  Beware - here comes the ORTHO.

FA's in my compost or garden beds present a problem.  ORTHO will kill the necessary microbes along with the ants.  I disturb the nest then douse it with boiling water.  They move to another area where I can attack them with the ORTHO.

Try boiling water.  It will at least make them move away from your compost.

Good luck

Ants are a problem on my hummingbird feeders.  I use plain petroleum jelly on the hanger.  I don't have to add anything to it.  The ants get suck and can not reach the feeder.  Same thing with the legs of patio furniture.  Adding Cayenne does not increase the effectiveness. 

Good luck

Elizabeth, I rub pure neem oil on our hummingbird feeder's hanging wire and the ants stay away for quite some time.

You don't want to control them, repel them, kill them. All that's going to do is rebuild their reserve. You need to eliminate the colony, how to do that with fire ants may need professional help.
As in termite control, their colonies are eliminated now with the relatively new product.

The key to getting rid of an ant nest is to remove the queen. Turning the compost pile will certainly disrupt the nest. If the pile is kept significantly moist, it will generally be inhospitable for ants to keep a nest there.

haas, thanks for that link.