[USCC] Fire ants and compost blankets

[Steve Diver]

There might be a connection to the use of compost tea
/compost extract for control of fire ant if you look further. 

TrueStop Fire Ant Killer has an active ingredient that is
based on a manure extract.

A farmer-inventor in Texas, Dean Holz, figured out by happenchance
observation that a certain type of manure extract controls fire ants,
then he worked with scientists to develop this product.

They use dairy manure and lagoon wastes as a bulk source
of manure extract and turn animal waste into a natural insect
control.

It is sold by Stet Corporation under the WisEarth label.

http://www.stetcorp.com/content/default.asp

At the same time, the natural gardeners in Texas
are a maverick bunch who find alternatives to
pesticides.

That's why you can also find the following recipes
that use orange oil, molasses, and compost tea, etc.

http://www.dirtdoctor.com/view_question.php?id=1341
http://fireant.tamu.edu/materials/factsheets_pubs/pdf/FAPFS012.2002rev.pdf

The use of compost tea alone won't control fire ants,
but related manure extracts and recipes for natural
gardening that include compost teas are fire ant control
methods in use.

Regards,
Steve Diver



Craig Coker wrote:

>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
>
> 
>  
>