Hi all,
My name is mari and I have recently been blessed or cursed with a new ant obbssesion. I say cursed because my new obbsession is taking hours away from my family and is making me the new crazy lady on the block due to the fact that at all hours day or night you can find me standing in my yard, staring.......
In truth this all started when a new mound appeared right where my toddler likes to play. I have been trying to kill them with bait (so fun to give them diffrent foods to see what they prefer!) but have had no luck after a month. After about 3 weeks I noticed my ENTIRE yard is infested with ants. How did I never notice before?
So like I said I have become obbssed with these ants, they are just facinating. I have not been able to positively ID any of thses ants but I think the majority are native fire ants, (solders with large red blockish heads) some theif ants all around and the others I just dont know. I live in arizona and read we have quite a variety.
I have a few questions about behavior that I cant find an answer to. (Yes, I tried the search feature.)
Why do these ants carry bits of grass and debris over to the bait I put out and try to bury it? What are they doing? Why do I see ants carrying larva/eggs from a mound allllllll the way across the yard? (I actually attempted to follow a few but would always loose them. After about 2 hours my eyes were hurting and my husband was mad I hadnt made dinner) What can I do to keep my yard safe for the kids? I dont mind if the ants stay on the sides, but there are a few mounds (and lots and lots of very active holes with no noticable mound in sight) and if you happen to stand in the wrong place you can be in for a world of hurt.
Thanks in advance to anyone who answers, I am sure glad I found this place, I really cant believe more of my friends and neighbors do become ant fans after I show them the incredible little city in my yard!!
My name is mari and I have recently been blessed or cursed with a new ant obbssesion. I say cursed because my new obbsession is taking hours away from my family and is making me the new crazy lady on the block due to the fact that at all hours day or night you can find me standing in my yard, staring.......
In truth this all started when a new mound appeared right where my toddler likes to play. I have been trying to kill them with bait (so fun to give them diffrent foods to see what they prefer!) but have had no luck after a month. After about 3 weeks I noticed my ENTIRE yard is infested with ants. How did I never notice before?
So like I said I have become obbssed with these ants, they are just facinating. I have not been able to positively ID any of thses ants but I think the majority are native fire ants, (solders with large red blockish heads) some theif ants all around and the others I just dont know. I live in arizona and read we have quite a variety.
I have a few questions about behavior that I cant find an answer to. (Yes, I tried the search feature.)
Why do these ants carry bits of grass and debris over to the bait I put out and try to bury it? What are they doing? Why do I see ants carrying larva/eggs from a mound allllllll the way across the yard? (I actually attempted to follow a few but would always loose them. After about 2 hours my eyes were hurting and my husband was mad I hadnt made dinner) What can I do to keep my yard safe for the kids? I dont mind if the ants stay on the sides, but there are a few mounds (and lots and lots of very active holes with no noticable mound in sight) and if you happen to stand in the wrong place you can be in for a world of hurt.
Thanks in advance to anyone who answers, I am sure glad I found this place, I really cant believe more of my friends and neighbors do become ant fans after I show them the incredible little city in my yard!!
).
