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Fire Ants : How can we keep them off Formicariums!

Started By MillyMoney , Sep 22 2020 11:55 AM

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6 replies to this topic

#1 Offline MillyMoney - Posted September 22 2020 - 11:55 AM

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LocationHi Desert California

We have a real fire ant issue in my house. We don't use poisons due to 1, hating poisoning things, and 2, we have lots of other animals (including my ants).

Does anyone know a good barrier to put on the sides of formicariums that these girls don't cross? Oil doesn't work, they just say yummy!

I need something that is hopefully easy to obtain and will stop them from attacking/foraging in the other ants nests in here.

Even if just foraging, once they get in they happily go for the throat with the other species.

#2 Offline Ants_Dakota - Posted September 22 2020 - 12:05 PM

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LocationSioux Falls, South Dakota

you can pour baby powder in large amounts over their trails.

MillyMoney likes this

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#3 Offline RushmoreAnts - Posted September 22 2020 - 12:06 PM

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Try diatomaceous chalk. An AC ploy I know, but unlike many of his schemes I see no flaws in this.

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"God made..... all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds (including ants). And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:25 NIV version

Keeping:

Tetramorium immigrans

Formica cf. pallidefulva, cf. incerta, cf. argentea

Formica cf. aserva, cf. subintegra

Pogonomyrmex occidentalis

Pheidole bicarinata

Myrmica sp.

Lasius neoniger, brevicornis

#4 Offline MillyMoney - Posted September 22 2020 - 12:11 PM

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LocationHi Desert California

Thank you for the advice, I will try both of these. These girls are very active right now in the house, can't wait for winter!

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#5 Offline ANTdrew - Posted September 22 2020 - 1:07 PM

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LocationAlexandria, VA

You could also consider putting a moat of some kind. I’ve done this with shallow baking pans filled with a mix of water and vinegar. I suggest the vinegar because some tiny ants can walk on water if they’re determined enough. Place the formicarium on some little feet direct in the tray.

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"The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Prov. 30:25
Keep ordinary ants in extraordinary ways.

#6 Offline Antkeeper01 - Posted September 22 2020 - 1:17 PM

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so you don't have to kill them

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#7 Offline Monarch - Posted September 22 2020 - 7:01 PM

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I have fire ants as well in a natural setup and mine seldom leave. But the side of my tank are very humid and i have a glass lid on top. Around the rim (where the glass lies) i have thin cuts of fabric glued on the edges that make it to where the ants cannot squeeze through.