[USCC] Fire ants and compost blankets

[Matthew Cotton]

Craig -

I did a quick search on the California Department of Food and  
Agriculture web site  
(http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/pdep/rifa/html/english/facts/ 
biology_environment.html) which has an extensive site devoted to Red  
Imported Fire Ant (and some scary pictures) and while there is nothing  
directly related to compost blankets, the little bit that is there:

"Compost Piles, Mulched Flower Beds, Pavement Cracks, etc.
Red Imported Fire Ants invade compost piles and mulched flower beds  
seeking warmth and moisture. "

Would seem to support David's comments.

Matthew Cotton
Integrated Waste Management Consulting, LLC
19375 Lake City Road
Nevada City, CA  95959
(530) 265-4560
Fax (530) 265-4547
mattcotton at mindspring.com

On Oct 13, 2006, at 6:22 AM, Craig Coker wrote:

> U.S. COMPOSTING COUNCIL 15th ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND TRADESHOW
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>
>
> Hello colleagues:
>
>
>
> A client of mine is considering use of a yard waste compost as an  
> erosion
> control blanket on the closed-out portions of a MSW landfill.  They  
> have a
> fire ant infestation problem at the site and in this community and  
> I've been
> asked if the compost blanket would encourage spread of the fire ant
> invasion.
>
>
>
> A quick lit search on the 'Net suggests that compost tea is useful in  
> fire
> ant control (Texas Coop Extension) and that microbes and fungi in the
> compost are predatory to fire ants (a commercial gardening web site).
>
>
>
> Does anyone have any real experience with the impact of 2"-4" compost
> blankets on fire ants? Will it cause the infestation to spread?  Or are
> these info sources correct, that perhaps the leaching of compost  
> nutrients
> and microbes/fungi into the soil beneath the blanket will be  
> inhibitory to
> fire ants?
>
>
>
> Many thanks,
>
> Craig
>
>
>
> Craig Coker
>
> Coker Composting & Consulting
>
> 3331 Glade Creek Blvd.
>
> Ste. 7
>
> Roanoke, VA  24012
>
> (540) 904-2698
>
> Fax: (540) 904-6732
>
> Cell: (540) 874-5168
>
> craigcoker at cox.net
>
> www.cokercompost.com
>
>
>
>
>
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