[USCC] Fire ants and compost blankets

Mon Oct 16 08:58:12 CDT 2006

Dear Craig,

Fire ants often choose mulch or compost with a lot of uncomposted leaf
fragments as a matrix for building a mound. They are not much more
attracted to finished compost than to any rich loamy soil with good
moisture holding and temperature buffering properties. They will not
infest an area lacking food even if it provides a good mound-building
and nesting environment. If the area is not already infested, or has
been treated with a low-toxicity bait a few weeks prior, then an
application of a mature compost and/or coarse mulch should not create a
new infestation. This is a good time of year for baiting if you can find
a patch of dry weather. 

The potential for fire ant infestation is not justification for
avoiding valuable erosion control & landscaping treatments. The best
long-term preventive measure for fire ants is a healthy, diverse
landscape with limited permanent water sources.

One of the best resources for fire ant information is
http://fireant.tamu.edu/.

Bill Carter
Water Quality Monitoring & Assessment    MC 165
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
P.O. Box 13087
Austin, TX  78711-3087
Phone:  512-239-6771
Fax:  512-239-4410
wcarter at tceq.state.tx.us

>>> craigcoker at cox.net 10/14/2006 3:31 AM >>>

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David, Matt & Bob:

Thanks for your responses to my query.  In my review of the literature,
I
find nearly unanimous opinion that fire ants are drawn to compost piles
due
to the warmth, particularly if they are too dry.  However, this
application
is for a finished, mature compost blanket (2" depth).  So, would the
presence of organic matter draw the ants, or allow/encourage colonies
to
expand? 

I can see how biosolids compost might be repellent to them (as it is to
some
humans..lol); the application is for a yard waste compost, so perhaps
whatever inhibitory compounds are in biosolids compost might not be
present
in yard waste compost.

I wonder if this idea could be pilot-tested somehow? I'd hate to see
my
client spread a blanket over a 260-acre closed out landfill, just to
see the
Invasion of The Fire Ants begin.

Craig

-----Original Message-----
From: compost-bounces at composter.com
[mailto:compost-bounces at composter.com]
On Behalf Of Rynk, Robert F
Sent: Friday, October 13, 2006 12:48 PM
To: US Composting Council Compost Discussion List
Subject: Re: [USCC] Fire ants and compost blankets

I remember reading a claim, in some long-forgotten article at some

unremembered time, that BIOSOLIDS compost had a repelling effect on
fire

ants.  It was anecdotal information I am sure. We discourage people
from

considering all compost to have the same qualities and effects on
soils

and plants. Maybe we should think that the same holds true for the

effect of compost on fire ants as well. Perhaps, biosolids compost has

one effect, green waste compost another, dairy manure composts yet

another. -- Bob Rynk 

Robert Rynk

SUNY, Cobleskill

122 Curtis-Mott Hall

Cobleskill, NY  12043

518-255-5691

rynkrf at cobleskill.edu

-----Original Message-----

From: compost-bounces at composter.com

[mailto:compost-bounces at composter.com] On Behalf Of Matthew Cotton

Sent: Friday, October 13, 2006 12:04 PM

To: US Composting Council Compost Discussion List

Subject: Re: [USCC] Fire ants and compost blankets

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

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