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how do i get ants out from outside
Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2017 3:19 pm
by 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
Re: how do i get ants out from outside
Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2017 4:52 pm
by 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
Re: how do i get ants out from outside
Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2017 7:53 pm
by XxStrongHeroxX
Fulkol wrote: ↑Sun Feb 26, 2017 4:52 pm
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?
Re: how do i get ants out from outside
Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2017 7:54 pm
by XxStrongHeroxX
XxStrongHeroxX wrote: ↑Sun Feb 26, 2017 7:53 pm
Fulkol wrote: ↑Sun Feb 26, 2017 4:52 pm
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
Re: how do i get ants out from outside
Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2017 10:11 pm
by AntsSA
A baby powder rubbing alcohol mix should work for fire ants.
Re: how do i get ants out from outside
Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2017 11:11 pm
by 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.
Re: how do i get ants out from outside
Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2017 11:14 pm
by XxStrongHeroxX
AntsSA wrote: ↑Sun Feb 26, 2017 10:11 pm
A baby powder rubbing alcohol mix should work for fire ants.
thanks
Re: how do i get ants out from outside
Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2017 8:25 pm
by 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.
Re: how do i get ants out from outside
Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2017 9:00 pm
by 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.
Re: how do i get ants out from outside
Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2017 9:07 pm
by XxStrongHeroxX
Serafine wrote: ↑Mon Feb 27, 2017 9:00 pm
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?