What are these black ants around the weeds?

[ef9]

When I was pulling the weeds, I notice a ton of ants would come running out of the base of the weeds.

They are sorta small and black. Apparently they do not bite.

Also, what is a good way to get rid of them? They make their way into the house, and no one is living there yet!

I can't imagine what will happen when we do live there, and with two babies making a mess on the floor.

Please help,

Stan

[Beachboy]

quote:

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When I was pulling the weeds, I notice a ton of ants would come running out of the base of the weeds.

They are sorta small and black. Apparently they do not bite.

Also, what is a good way to get rid of them? They make their way into the house, and no one is living there yet!

I can't imagine what will happen when we do live there, and with two babies making a mess on the floor.

Please help,

Stan

---

Stan, Big Island has several varieties of ants running around. What you encountered sounds like one type of "Volcano Ants". When exposed from the earth, or distrurbed. Did they run around really fast? If so they are more than likely a volcano ant. Be on the watch for "Fire Ants", the Big Island now has them too!!!

For get rid of these little pest, or any pest I suggest 'Ortho's Home Defense'"Max". Especially if your home is on a slab like mine. I sprayed before we moved in and now I spray once aweek around home too. Second night we moved in my wife had a centipede in her pant leg! But since we only see crickets in the house! The "Home Defense" is oderless too which is great.

[pslamont]

Not sure where you are located, but if allowed, keeping free range chickens/jungle fowl in the yard gets rid of all our bugs... and we are on 30 acres! Of course, we have a lot of birds... P

Just another day in P A R A D I S E !!

[hpp4me]

I keep hearing this suggestion of using free range chickens for pest control. It sounds a lot better than using chemicals!

Some dumb chicken questions. (1) If you have free range chickens, do you still have to feed them, or do they take care of themselves? (2) Do chickens have to be given water, like dogs, or do they take care of that on their own, too? (3) Where does one go to buy chickens? (4) Do they need vet care?

I fear these are beyond dumb, but I really don't know!

[jdirgo]

1) I would recommend supplementing what they find on the property with some scratch. It'll help balance out their nutrients.
2)Yes, give them water.
3)Del's in Hilo usually has them as does the Pahoa Feed Store. It can be seasonal at time, though.
4)Not that I've ever seen. The feed stores carry just about any medicine or supplement you could ever need.

John Dirgo, R, ABR, e-PRO
Island Trust Properties, LLC
808-987-9243 cell
http://www.hawaiirealproperty.com

[ef9]

I am not up to having chicken around in my yard just yet.

I guess I may try the Ortho Home Defense Max.

Stan

[Beachboy]

quote:

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I am not up to having chicken around in my yard just yet.

I guess I may try the Ortho Home Defense Max.

Stan

---

I too have hesitated about picking up chickens for several reasons. One, I'm not sure I want to open hunting season in my yard for my dog! Two, not sure how neighbors would take it. Plus I'm not sure about chicken droppings everywhere. My one and a half year old tends to picks small items up and stick in his mouth.. I don't want chicken droppings to be an item he eats!!!

Centipedes being my biggest concern, I'll stick with the orderless bug spray(Orthos' Home Defense Max) for the time being! Besides, I feel it's not a problem having the Ortho around my kids. Since they can't smell it, they tend not to be curious about it...unless they catch me spraying it!

[hpp4me]

quote:

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1) I would recommend supplementing what they find on the property with some scratch. It'll help balance out their nutrients.
2)Yes, give them water.
3)Del's in Hilo usually has them as does the Pahoa Feed Store. It can be seasonal at time, though.
4)Not that I've ever seen. The feed stores carry just about any medicine or supplement you could ever need.

John Dirgo, R, ABR, e-PRO
Island Trust Properties, LLC
808-987-9243 cell
http://www.hawaiirealproperty.com

---

Thanks, John. Maybe we'll start with Chickens and move on to Dwarf Nigerian Goats later (if the chicken's don't die). I met Jerry and Markie's goats (at the splendid Art and Orchid B&B) and they were so cute, especially the babies!



Edited by - hpp4me on 07/08/2007 09:52:44

[sansei]

I am pulling this thread up because I was just swarmed by ants this weekend. The product I like to use is called Terro (http://www.terro.com/). I used the original formula which is a sugar syrup laced with Borax that you drop onto cardboard square and put in out of the way places in their path. Sodium Tetraborate Decahydrate (Borax) is basically the same thing used to treat HIBOR lumber. If you are old enough to have watched Death Valley Days on TV you will remember 20 Mule Team Borax laundry detergent. It is slow acting so you don't have the pleasure of seeing the buggars roll over with their legs twitching but it allows them to bring some of it back to the nest to share. It is safe for humans and pets.

I looked up Ortho Home Defense Max and the active ingredient is Bifenthrin which is listed by PAN (Pesticide Action Network) as a Bad Actor so I personally would not use it in the home. You can Google the chemical yourself and make up your own mind.

[Les C]

The organization that Sansei mentions is a good one to check with:
http://www.panna.org/
also:
http://www.pesticide.org/

Look for the MSDS (materials safety data sheet) for any potential toxin. There's usually more information about potential and known dangers than on the box.