If colony collapse disorder weren't enough,
now we are facing an invasion of the deadly
RASBERRY CRAZY ANTS!

http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/strange...blem_2 730329

http://urbanentomology.tamu.edu/ants/exotic_tx.cfm

They attack and destroy beehives. So far,
only in Texas, but as their range expands they
may invade places where nice people live. :-)

On Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:26:32 -0700, Mark Thorson wrote:

> If colony collapse disorder weren't enough,
> now we are facing an invasion of the deadly
> RASBERRY CRAZY ANTS!

At least they don't sting and I won't be allergic to them.

> They attack and destroy beehives. So far,
> only in Texas, but as their range expands they
> may invade places where nice people live. :-)

Ahh, blow me.

-sw

Mark Thorson wrote:
> If colony collapse disorder weren't enough,
> now we are facing an invasion of the deadly
> RASBERRY CRAZY ANTS!
>
> http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/strange...blem_2 730329
>
> http://urbanentomology.tamu.edu/ants/exotic_tx.cfm
>
> They attack and destroy beehives. So far,
> only in Texas, but as their range expands they
> may invade places where nice people live. :-)
It figures they would show up in Houston area first, one of the biggest
ports in the country.

Saw a special on fire ants the other day and TAMU is experimenting with
a fly that attacks the ants and kills them. Shows promise for
eradicating a least one imported pest.

Now, about them Formosan termites that ate two of my oak trees and are
working on the last one we have.

George Shirley wrote:
> Mark Thorson wrote:
>> If colony collapse disorder weren't enough,
>> now we are facing an invasion of the deadly
>> RASBERRY CRAZY ANTS!
>>
>> http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/strange...blem_2 730329
>>
>>
>> http://urbanentomology.tamu.edu/ants/exotic_tx.cfm
>>
>> They attack and destroy beehives. So far,
>> only in Texas, but as their range expands they
>> may invade places where nice people live. :-)
> It figures they would show up in Houston area first, one of the biggest
> ports in the country.
>
> Saw a special on fire ants the other day and TAMU is experimenting with
> a fly that attacks the ants and kills them. Shows promise for
> eradicating a least one imported pest.
>
> Now, about them Formosan termites that ate two of my oak trees and are
> working on the last one we have.

But then the flies will probably turn out the be an issue. That
seems to be how things work.

--
Jean B.

"George Shirley" > wrote in message
...
> Mark Thorson wrote:
http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/strange...blem_2 730329
>>
>> http://urbanentomology.tamu.edu/ants/exotic_tx.cfm
>>
>> They attack and destroy beehives. So far,
>> only in Texas, but as their range expands they
>> may invade places where nice people live. :-)
> It figures they would show up in Houston area first, one of the biggest
> ports in the country.



I live in Houston and we seem to have every kind of ant you can imagine.
Out on the sidewalks in front of our house long streams of ants are coming
and going in single files. Then there are the other ants who go helter
skelter in no apparent order. I think those may be the rasberry ants. The
fire ants build mounds in the yard and give you very hurtful stings when you
mow the lawn and get too close. Good times.

"Jean B." wrote:
>
> George Shirley wrote:
> >
> > Saw a special on fire ants the other day and TAMU is experimenting with
> > a fly that attacks the ants and kills them. Shows promise for
> > eradicating a least one imported pest.
> >
> > Now, about them Formosan termites that ate two of my oak trees and are
> > working on the last one we have.
>
> But then the flies will probably turn out the be an issue. That
> seems to be how things work.

No problem. There's an exotic spider we can get which will
eat up the flies after they've taken care of the fire ants.

Mark Thorson wrote:
> "Jean B." wrote:
>> George Shirley wrote:
>>> Saw a special on fire ants the other day and TAMU is experimenting with
>>> a fly that attacks the ants and kills them. Shows promise for
>>> eradicating a least one imported pest.
>>>
>>> Now, about them Formosan termites that ate two of my oak trees and are
>>> working on the last one we have.
>> But then the flies will probably turn out the be an issue. That
>> seems to be how things work.
>
> No problem. There's an exotic spider we can get which will
> eat up the flies after they've taken care of the fire ants.

And then? It is endless.

--
Jean B.

"Jean B." > wrote in message
...
> Mark Thorson wrote:
>> "Jean B." wrote:
>>> George Shirley wrote:
>>>> Saw a special on fire ants the other day and TAMU is experimenting with
>>>> a fly that attacks the ants and kills them. Shows promise for
>>>> eradicating a least one imported pest.
>>>>
>>>> Now, about them Formosan termites that ate two of my oak trees and are
>>>> working on the last one we have.
>>> But then the flies will probably turn out the be an issue. That
>>> seems to be how things work.
>>
>> No problem. There's an exotic spider we can get which will
>> eat up the flies after they've taken care of the fire ants.
>
> And then? It is endless.
>

This Subj. line, stupid tone repeated endlessly, is mostly why I have
Thorson kfed. He reminds me of my MIL, constant doom and gloom emergencies.

"Jean B." > wrote in message
...
> Mark Thorson wrote:
>> "Jean B." wrote:
>>> George Shirley wrote:
>>>> Saw a special on fire ants the other day and TAMU is experimenting with
>>>> a fly that attacks the ants and kills them. Shows promise for
>>>> eradicating a least one imported pest.
>>>>
>>>> Now, about them Formosan termites that ate two of my oak trees and are
>>>> working on the last one we have.
>>> But then the flies will probably turn out the be an issue. That
>>> seems to be how things work.
>>
>> No problem. There's an exotic spider we can get which will
>> eat up the flies after they've taken care of the fire ants.
>
> And then? It is endless.

Not always, no. Back in 1990 in SoCal we had a huge issue with ash white
flies. They were so thick it was like everything was covered in gray dust.
They swarmed in thick cloud formations and when you drove they would
splatter against your car and cover the window. So they introduced a tiny
little wasp from Israel and within a couple years the problem was all but
eradicated. You sometimes see a few of them but but rarely. Some insects
have such a limited number of food sources that when they exhaust a source
they become self limiting themselves

Paul

"Jean B." wrote:
>
> Mark Thorson wrote:
> > "Jean B." wrote:
> >> George Shirley wrote:
> >>> Saw a special on fire ants the other day and TAMU is experimenting with
> >>> a fly that attacks the ants and kills them. Shows promise for
> >>> eradicating a least one imported pest.
> >>>
> >>> Now, about them Formosan termites that ate two of my oak trees and are
> >>> working on the last one we have.
> >> But then the flies will probably turn out the be an issue. That
> >> seems to be how things work.
> >
> > No problem. There's an exotic spider we can get which will
> > eat up the flies after they've taken care of the fire ants.
>
> And then? It is endless.

There's a bird from New Zealand which will eat the spiders.

On Aug 6, 10:33*am, "Phyllis Stone" > wrote:
> "George Shirley" > wrote in message
>
> ...> Mark Thorson wrote:
>
> http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/strange...ry_crazy_ants_...
>
>
>
> >>http://urbanentomology.tamu.edu/ants/exotic_tx.cfm
>
> >> They attack and destroy beehives. *So far,
> >> only in Texas, but as their range expands they
> >> may invade places where nice people live. *:-)
> > It figures they would show up in Houston area first, one of the biggest
> > ports in the country.
>
> I live in Houston and we seem to have every kind of ant you can imagine.
> Out on the sidewalks in front of our house long streams of ants are coming
> and going in single files. Then there are the other ants who go helter
> skelter in no apparent order. I think those may be the rasberry ants. The
> fire ants build mounds in the yard and give you very hurtful stings when you
> mow the lawn and *get too close. Good times.

Do you not kill them? Just askin'....

N.

Jean B. > wrote in message
...
> Mark Thorson wrote:
> > > New Ants Imported and Issues

>> No problem. There's an exotic spider we can get which will
>> eat up the flies after they've taken care of the fire ants.

> And then? It is endless.

I'm pretty sure he's teasin' y'all...

The Ranger

On Aug 6, 8:33*am, "Phyllis Stone" > wrote:
[snip]
> I live in Houston and we seem to have every kind of ant you can imagine.
[snip]

Use boric acid mixed with sugar (8:1) in selected areas to assist with
reducing your ant invasions. Ant stakes (Black Flag) also work to
divert any sugar and carpenter ants along the borders of your
property. You have to work at convincing them that your property isn't
worth their inconvenience.

The Ranger

"Nancy2" > wrote in message
...

>
> I live in Houston and we seem to have every kind of ant you can imagine.
> Out on the sidewalks in front of our house long streams of ants are coming
> and going in single files. Then there are the other ants who go helter
> skelter in no apparent order. I think those may be the rasberry ants. The
> fire ants build mounds in the yard and give you very hurtful stings when
> you
> mow the lawn and get too close. Good times.

Do you not kill them? Just askin'....

N.


We do. There is something we buy at home depot that you sprinkle a small
amount on the mound and the ants take it inside and it kills the queen. I am
going to be honest, I don't like killing but they can sting pets and
children so you have to try to get rid of them.

"Phyllis Stone" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Nancy2" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>
>> I live in Houston and we seem to have every kind of ant you can imagine.
>> Out on the sidewalks in front of our house long streams of ants are
>> coming
>> and going in single files. Then there are the other ants who go helter
>> skelter in no apparent order. I think those may be the rasberry ants. The
>> fire ants build mounds in the yard and give you very hurtful stings when
>> you
>> mow the lawn and get too close. Good times.
>
> Do you not kill them? Just askin'....
>
> N.
>

Well she does before she coats them in choc and eats them.

Paul M. Cook wrote:
> "Jean B." > wrote in message
> ...
>> Mark Thorson wrote:
>>> "Jean B." wrote:
>>>> George Shirley wrote:
>>>>> Saw a special on fire ants the other day and TAMU is experimenting with
>>>>> a fly that attacks the ants and kills them. Shows promise for
>>>>> eradicating a least one imported pest.
>>>>>
>>>>> Now, about them Formosan termites that ate two of my oak trees and are
>>>>> working on the last one we have.
>>>> But then the flies will probably turn out the be an issue. That
>>>> seems to be how things work.
>>> No problem. There's an exotic spider we can get which will
>>> eat up the flies after they've taken care of the fire ants.
>> And then? It is endless.
>
> Not always, no. Back in 1990 in SoCal we had a huge issue with ash white
> flies. They were so thick it was like everything was covered in gray dust.
> They swarmed in thick cloud formations and when you drove they would
> splatter against your car and cover the window. So they introduced a tiny
> little wasp from Israel and within a couple years the problem was all but
> eradicated. You sometimes see a few of them but but rarely. Some insects
> have such a limited number of food sources that when they exhaust a source
> they become self limiting themselves
>
> Paul
>
>
Too bad that is not always the outcome of such schemes.

--
Jean B.

Mark Thorson wrote:
> "Jean B." wrote:
>> Mark Thorson wrote:
>>> "Jean B." wrote:
>>>> George Shirley wrote:
>>>>> Saw a special on fire ants the other day and TAMU is experimenting with
>>>>> a fly that attacks the ants and kills them. Shows promise for
>>>>> eradicating a least one imported pest.
>>>>>
>>>>> Now, about them Formosan termites that ate two of my oak trees and are
>>>>> working on the last one we have.
>>>> But then the flies will probably turn out the be an issue. That
>>>> seems to be how things work.
>>> No problem. There's an exotic spider we can get which will
>>> eat up the flies after they've taken care of the fire ants.
>> And then? It is endless.
>
> There's a bird from New Zealand which will eat the spiders.

I have to laugh. Sorry.

--
Jean B.

cybercat wrote:

> "Jean B." > wrote in message
> ...
>> Mark Thorson wrote:
>>> "Jean B." wrote:
>>>> George Shirley wrote:
>>>>> Saw a special on fire ants the other day and TAMU is
>>>>> experimenting with a fly that attacks the ants and kills them.
>>>>> Shows promise for eradicating a least one imported pest.
>>>>>
>>>>> Now, about them Formosan termites that ate two of my oak trees
>>>>> and are working on the last one we have.
>>>> But then the flies will probably turn out the be an issue. That
>>>> seems to be how things work.
>>>
>>> No problem. There's an exotic spider we can get which will
>>> eat up the flies after they've taken care of the fire ants.
>>
>> And then? It is endless.
>>
>
> This Subj. line, stupid tone repeated endlessly, is mostly why I have
> Thorson kfed. He reminds me of my MIL, constant doom and gloom
> emergencies.


What, is yer MIL pregnant *again*...!!!???

:-D

--
Best
Greg

"Phyllis Stone" > wrote in message
...
>
> "George Shirley" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Mark Thorson wrote:
> http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/strange...blem_2 730329
>>>
>>> http://urbanentomology.tamu.edu/ants/exotic_tx.cfm
>>>
>>> They attack and destroy beehives. So far,
>>> only in Texas, but as their range expands they
>>> may invade places where nice people live. :-)
>> It figures they would show up in Houston area first, one of the biggest
>> ports in the country.
>
>
>
> I live in Houston and we seem to have every kind of ant you can imagine.
> Out on the sidewalks in front of our house long streams of ants are coming
> and going in single files. Then there are the other ants who go helter
> skelter in no apparent order. I think those may be the rasberry ants. The
> fire ants build mounds in the yard and give you very hurtful stings when
> you mow the lawn and get too close. Good times.
>
Get some food grade diotamaceous earth. Sprinkle on ant hills. they will
dry up and go away.


--
mompeagram
FERGUS/HARLINGEN
http://mompeagram.homestead.com