Got Fire Ants? Try These Natural Remedies Safe for Humans and Pets!

Home : Blogs : Wilmington NC Real Estate & Relocation~ Ginger Sala : Wilmington NC Real Estate & Relocation

Got Fire Ants? Try These Natural Remedies Safe for Humans and Pets!

Fire Ants are not native to NC, but have become more commonplace as they have hitched a ride on nursery stock, mulch and soil from our southern neighbors down in Florida.

If you have ever been stung by a fire ant you know that these little critters pack a powerful punch!! I was quite concerned when I found a couple of mounds of sandy fire ant colonies in our yard.

What to do?? We never use insecticides or pesticides. I am dead against them, don't trust them and do not want them anywhere near us or our precious Bella.

So I concocted a homemade solution of vinegar and cayenne pepper ..I'll show them little buggers what fire is all about...LOL! And they were going to get it!...So I went out with a long stick and disturbed the mound, then I poured the solution all over and watched them scramble!!

The next day they were history! I don't know if they just moved or died, all I know is they are not on our property any longer! Try it!

Been stung?....Got the remedy... Apply a slice of fresh Garlic to the area and secure with a bandaid. You will be amazed! The swelling and pain will be greatly reduced. Noticeable relief wiil come in just a few minutes! Keep this on for at least a day! Change to fresh clove if needed. This remedy works great for bee and hornet stings, and reduces itching and redness of mosquito bites. If Garlic is not available, onion works also. I have tried this remedy for all stings, it really works!

Going to a picnic? Bring a clove of garlic with you just in case! Don't leave home without it!

Posted by Wilmington NC Real Estate & Relocation~ Ginger Sala on 05/30/2007 09:01 AM

Comments (23)

fire ant safe remedy

Originally posted at: Wilmington NC Real Estate : Got Fire Ants? Try These Natural Remedies Safe for Humans and Pets!

Generate short URL

23 Comments on Got Fire Ants? Try These Natural Remedies Safe for Humans and Pets!

MAY

2007

THANKS for these remedies, Ginger! We always like to look to nature for ways to resolve our "ills"...now all we have to do is apply this wisdom in the "Big Picture"...

Those little buggers are a real pain in the arse here in Florida. And they swarn VERY quickly if you step on them. If you find a fire ant mound and brush a stick across the top or step on it, thousands of angry ants immediately spill out, biting the air. And when they bite you, it hurts and the itching is unreal. It will drive you bonkers.

Some other remedies if you get stung: Apply alcohol or anything with alcohol in it like mouthwash (yes mouthwash) on the sting and it will help with the itching and burning. It's almost instant relief.

Thanks for the advice, I was just asking people about this Monday because I have a few mounds in my yard.... I am going to try this today.... Thanks again!

I have, on occasion had ants finding their way into my kitchen. (An open window, with an apple pie cooling on it can be just as much of a temptation to the ants as it is to me.)

I have found that by putting apple cider vinegar in a spray bottle, and spraying it on my window sills is enough to keep the little pests outside, where they belong. It is not an unpleasant smell, either. I haven't tried the cayenne pepper additive, but I don't think I would want that for inside usage, anyway.

Ants' bodies contain a high concentration of formic acid. The vinegar reacts with that acid, which is why vinegar is effective against ants. I remember an elementary school science project -- we made a "volcano" by adding combining vinegar and baking soda, which by the way is a great way to get that funky smell out of the garbage disposal or kitchen sink. -- pour a small box of baking soda into the drain, and then add a couple of cups of vinegar (add about a 1/4 cup at a time). Natural "scrubbing bubbles!"

I've heard that grits work well against ants, too. Uncooked, that is. They eat the grits and it swells in their bodies, and, well, they don't expand like we do.

And for bee stings, a friend of mine swears by putting a penny on the sting. Something about the copper in the penny reacts with the sting to make it not hurt anymore.

jA, yes nature has the answer for most of our ills. If we only knew where to look!

Becky, I have tried alcohol on bites with not much relief. Never tried mouthwash!

Leo, be careful when you do the treatment wear long pants tucked in your socks, Make sure you disturb the mound a little before and after application. Just keep pouring it on!

Rich Vinegar is amazing! Ialso use the baking soda vinegar combo for some cleaning jobs.I thought the ant remedy up myself, and it worked. I figure there was some scientific explanation....now I know! Thanks! For indoor ants, Boric acid is a good treament. As long as pets don't get at it.

Ginger

Hi Ginger, don't blame us here in Florida for your fire ants. They originally came from South America and are working their way up the east coast :-) As for remedies, nothing really works in the long run. The survivors just move the nest elsewhere. Unless you kill the queen. When she dies the colony dies. The safest remedy is Amdro. Its potato chips coated in a bait. The bait is taken to the queen and voila, no more colony. And yes alcohol does work on the bites if you do it immediately. It stops the sting and the following blister. I use hand sanitzer just because its handy. Enjoy your fire ant invasion. Keeping them at bay is an ongoing adventure. Getting them inside your house is even more fun!

Terry Haugen - STAGE it RIGHT!

Ginger,

From my experience, your ants just moved--probably to your neighbors yard and they will probably be back. They are tough little critters. There are all kinds of remedies out there and from what I've heard from people, most don't work. Of course, I've heard chemicals don't work very well either. Good luck with them, they have gotten bad here too. Their bites do ouch!

Maria & Jim, I heard the grits thing to,heard it was n0t effective in the imported fire ants. Penny... I have heard about it haven't tried!

Terry, I have pulled up the welcome mat for the fire ants...LOL Actually they had started on colony right under a shrub near my front door.

EEK! Sent them packing from there real fast! I am only going by what they told me at the coop extension.They blamed Florida..Sorry!

Cynthia, yes they may have just up and moved, but see Rich Schiffer's comment above maybe the Acid got them!

Ginger

Man, those bites hurt! Not fun when you are camping...

JUN

2007

Jeff, They are the worst! Gotta get your garlic on relief will come fast!

Ginger

JUN

2007

HI again Ginger. Cynthia was right, you will never get rid of them. You just need to learn how to manage them. Just continue to use the bait products everytime you find a mound. The interesting thing about them is that the mound may be in your yard, and the nest a block away. Thats why controlling them with a bait is the only sound solution. Good luck. Dealing with fire ants becomes a way of life!

Terry Haugen - STAGE it RIGHT!

Terry.

I did not realize that the nest can be that far away. You would think the head guy at the ccounty extension would have mentioned that.

Thanks for the garlic first aid tip. I am somewhat allergic to them or maybe just super sensitive. So any advice is appreciated.

We had a mound tunnel under our driveway ! I am from Fla and recall stepping a few hills growing up- very painful. I too have heard of the grits, and heard of salt bloating and killing fleas. My aunt sprinkles salt in her carpet to keep out fleas....she swears by it. We never had flea problems.

My house now attracts birds because of columns- and there have been babys twice in nests. They are messy!

In Chapel Hill, our home would get coated in Lady Bugs...that was funny. Hundreds, and hundreds of them.

JUN

2007

Kelly, The garlic is amazing!

Michele, How much salt does your aunt sprinkle? We have never had fleas thank God!

Ladybugs up north.but not a swarm!

she just sprinkles the carpet.Says the flea will eat the salt and die, her words, I never had the need to try it. Thr grits comment reminded me of it....

Hi again Ginger. The county extension guy? What does he know about fire ants?:-) Apparently not much if he didn't give you the nest can be anywhere information. I used to work for a pest control company and thats where I got all my important knowledge!:-) Interestingly enough, those companies charge serious bucks to treat lawns for fire ants and never tell the customer about their living habits, nor do they use baits like Amdro. They just pour on the insecticide and hope no mounds appear before the next service.

Terry Haugen - STAGE it RIGHT!

JUN

2007

When I have problems with fire ants, I would punch a hole in the center of the mound and sprinkle a teaspoon of yeast in the hole. Since ants are mostly liquid, when the digest the yeast, it will mix with the liquid and explode/expand. If they feed it to the queen, it's even better. Self rising flour will have a similar effect but not as explosive.

Carolyn,

that sounds like a good one! BTW.Yeast makes a great facial. MIx with water for a paste and aply! Warning you may get a craving for rolls after applying. LOL!

Hmmm, I will have to try that one. Is it as good as soaking your feet in beer? Seems like a waste but it does feel good.

JUN

2007

Carolyn, Never heard of that one. Hate the smell of beer, so I won't try.

But yes, it makes the skin smooth and line free!

JUN

2009

I live in the heart of fire ant country in Texas. Those fire ants simply moved, and they'll be back. Filpronil (originally used for fleas) is the most effective agent for year round protection. It's safe for the watershed and allows repopulation of native ants. Over and Out, Top Choice, and Ceasefire work as a broadcast and bait. Good luck!

This blog does not allow anonymous comments

Wilmington NC Real Estate & Relocation~ Ginger Sala

Wilmington, NC

More about me…

Wilkinson & Associates, Wilmington NC

Address: 4833 Carolina Beach Rd, Wilmington, NC, 28412

Office Phone: (910) 431-7075

Email Me

Links

Archives

Find NC real estate agents and Wilmington real estate on ActiveRain.

Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.