Little Fire Ants & Molasses

[maud gonne]

Has anyone had any success in getting rid of LFA using molasses, especially dried molasses? And if so, where might one buy it in Pahoa or Hilo?

[hikatz]

Have not heard anything about results with molasses, but this is a very good link about alternative ways to deal with fire ants.

#13, 14 has interesting ant control treatments #15 uses molasses, worth a try since it does not use poisons!

http://www.thebestcontrol.com/bugstop/control_ant.htm

[Markie]

Here's a link to a Hawaii publication from the state on little fire ants: http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/IP-LFA.pdf

Markie

[Kapohocat]

Our neighbor uses it and it seems to work for him.
He makes a whole concoction of molasses, whole garlic cloves, whole chili peppers. Blends it - strains it - and then adds enough water to make it fluid to spray.

He swears it is working. We tried it and it seemed to work a little but actually helped the white frothy stuff getting on our plants even more.

[Radiopeg]

You might check with the Hawaii Ant Lab http://littlefireants.com
If the ants are in flower pots, many people drown them with soapy water. They love to live more arboreally, particularly in palms. The ant lab is working on ways to blast them at those kinds of heights. Also the lab will give you an ID on the particular kind of ant. The sad news is that they are in the control stage here, gone beyond eradication.

[Kelena]

The island's number one need: Agricultural inspectors. They are the only line of defense. Without them, Hawaii becomes Guam --overrun by snakes.

[janeadams]

Kelena,

Right on! That's why the nursery community was so up in arms at the previous governor's plans to fire all by on or two ag inspectors on this island. We know what would happen! Also, it would put nurseries that rely on shipping to the mainland out of business as there would be no certification process without the inspections. They ended up not laying them off, which was such a relief. Sure, the money had to come from somewhere else, but the risks to the aina and the blows to nursery businesses would have been unforgivable.

FYI, there used to be a list circulated each month of how much stuff was caught coming into the islands completely infested, and it was an impressive read. HDOA and USDA are our friends...

Jane
White Cloud Nursery

[maud gonne]

Thanks so much for the info & links. Lots of non-toxic remedies. I'm going to try the molasses/chili pepper spray. What's to lose.

[Likeable]

Spray them with rubbing alcohol!