Subscribe to RSSArchive for January, 2011
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Steam
A number of devices have been developed and marketed to heat water or produce stream to apply to ant mounds. Application is labor intensive and heating water can be expensive. Use of very hot liquid, like hot coffee, can also be hazardous to people and plants nearby. Read more about novel methods of fire ant [...]
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The Antser
The remains of an Antser-treated fire ant mound. Photo by Bart Drees.
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The Antser
The Antser. Photo by Bart Drees.
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The Antser
The Antser in action. Photo by Drees.
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The Antser
The Antser employed a lawnmower engine to power rotating tines to grind and stir ant mounds. A tank containing water aided the grinding process (Drees 1988). See a 1998 evaluation of this device.
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Microwaves
Heat produced by microwave devices has been proposed for use as a fire ant control method. One device has been evaluated (personal. communication, R. E. Gold) caused ants to move away from active devices, but treatments were not effective in causing colony death.
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McCoy Ant Stomper Windmill
Possibly the first non-chemical fire ant control device, the McCoy Ant Stomper was a windmill. Although marketed for fire ant control, it was developed in Lubbock, Texas to control the red harvester ants that emerge from their mounds using central openings.As the windmill turned, a heavy metal roller at the base was activated to “run [...]
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Mirex
An example of early treatments for fire ants: Mirex, since banned.
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Historical treatments for fire ants
Fire ant mound treatment with early insecticides. Nice hat.
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Steamin’ Steve
Steamin’ Steve. Photo courtesy of Cas Vanderwould, Dept Primary Industries, Queensland, Australia. Steam was tried as a method of controlling fire ants. Read more about novel products and methods to control fire ants at eXtension.org.
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Forest tent caterpillar
Forest tent caterpillar, egg mass. Photo by Bart Drees.
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Forest tent caterpillar
Forest tent caterpillars crawling on webbing on tree limb. Photo by Bart Drees.
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Forest tent caterpillar
Forest tent caterpillar webbing on tree. Photo by Bart Drees.
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Forest tent caterpillar
Forest tent caterpillars covering several leaves of a young oak tree. Notice webbing at the leaf base. Photo by Bart Drees.
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Forest tent caterpillar
Forest tent caterpillars and leaf damage. Photo by Bart Drees.
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Forest tent caterpillar
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Forest tent caterpillar
Forest tent caterpillar, egg mass on small tree limb. Photo by Bart Drees.
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Forest tent caterpillar
Forest tent caterpillar, egg mass. Photo by Bart Drees.
