how do i get ants out from outside

[XxStrongHeroxX]

i want to get some fire ants from outside instead of starting from scratch. there are some outside in my backyard but i dont know how to get them out. i don't want to just ding them out just in case they get hurt or killed. because i already did try digging up another colony but they just died maybe because i did not get the queen up and out

[Fulkol]

prepare a big bucket preferably with escape proof layer on top (if its a small colony, if it's huge you don't care if a few worker escape

and always dig way around the area you think the nest is located, like if it's a 30 cm radius circle dig at least half meter radius and dump the soil in the bucket

then with gloves with baby powder equipped dig thru the soil with a small tool and/or by hand and separate the eggs, the queens and as much workers as you want from the rest of the soil and workers

so you should end up with a relative small amount of dirt which has all the ants you need, just connect it to an existing setup and they should move in

you might be hurting a few which is unpleasant but you should be able to distinguish the queen and handle it with extra care and that's what matters the most

[XxStrongHeroxX]

prepare a big bucket preferably with escape proof layer on top (if its a small colony, if it's huge you don't care if a few worker escape

and always dig way around the area you think the nest is located, like if it's a 30 cm radius circle dig at least half meter radius and dump the soil in the bucket

then with gloves with baby powder equipped dig thru the soil with a small tool and/or by hand and separate the eggs, the queens and as much workers as you want from the rest of the soil and workers

so you should end up with a relative small amount of dirt which has all the ants you need, just connect it to an existing setup and they should move in

you might be hurting a few which is unpleasant but you should be able to distinguish the queen and handle it with extra care and that's what matters the most

what do i use to keep the ants inside the bucket?

[XxStrongHeroxX]

prepare a big bucket preferably with escape proof layer on top (if its a small colony, if it's huge you don't care if a few worker escape

and always dig way around the area you think the nest is located, like if it's a 30 cm radius circle dig at least half meter radius and dump the soil in the bucket

then with gloves with baby powder equipped dig thru the soil with a small tool and/or by hand and separate the eggs, the queens and as much workers as you want from the rest of the soil and workers

so you should end up with a relative small amount of dirt which has all the ants you need, just connect it to an existing setup and they should move in

you might be hurting a few which is unpleasant but you should be able to distinguish the queen and handle it with extra care and that's what matters the most

what do i use to keep the ants inside the bucket?

what should the layer be made out of

[AntsSA]

A baby powder rubbing alcohol mix should work for fire ants.

[Cale3459]

I've had success in the past taking a large flat rock and laying it over the top of the colony. Wait until a nice warm day when the sun is nice and bright to warm up the rock. A lot of times they will bring the brood up to warm under the rock and the queen is often there too.

[XxStrongHeroxX]

A baby powder rubbing alcohol mix should work for fire ants.

thanks

[idahoantgirl]

Just be warned it can be extremely difficult to dig up a colony. Your best bet is to catch one at a nuptual flight.

[Serafine]

If you want red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) you can put the earth you've digged up into a bucket full of water (break it apart, don't dump it as a block!). The fire ants will swim on the surface and make a raft so you can scoop them up all in one go. If you wait for a few minutes you can also immediately see if there's a queen present (she will sit in the middle of the raft, together with the brood). Don't try that with other ants though.

[XxStrongHeroxX]

If you want red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) you can put the earth you've digged up into a bucket full of water (break it apart, don't dump it as a block!). The fire ants will swim on the surface and make a raft so you can scoop them up all in one go. If you wait for a few minutes you can also immediately see if there's a queen present (she will sit in the middle of the raft, together with the brood). Don't try that with other ants though.

What about the eggs?