Amdro!? Not! It sounds like you have what we here in Texas call "fire
ants". Very aggressive and yes they bite. Not sure if you are aware of
Howard Garrett's website ( www.dirtdoctor.com)
and I am not affiliated...but he has thousands of listeners who give him
feedback on a variety of insect repellents. We're fortunate here in North
Texas to have the largest organic marketplace in the United States to obtain
products from. Fire ants will not tolerate dried molasses. I've had them
in my garden, and sprinkling the molasses on the mound makes them split,
post haste. Dried molasses will immediately increase the biological
activity in your soil (a VERY good thing in and of itself) and it creates a
situation that the ants hate. Give it a try. you might enjoy listening to
Howard's radio program on the internet. You can call in and ask him
questions at no charge to you through their 1-800 number. WBAP-AM on Sunday
mornings 8:00am-12 central time.
Good luck!
Tom
"Katra" wrote in message
...
In article wvMTc.7385$yh.3087@fed1read05,
"Lisa J Gehl" wrote:

I have been veggie gardening for about 4 years now and I have never in
my
life encountered so many ants in my life but the majority of them seem
to
just LOVE my garden. I have the regular black ants that I have known as
a
child and I know they are good for aerating the soil so I have left them
alone. They made a mound big enough to rid a small portion of my spinach
last
spring but they weren't that much of a nucience (sp?).

My problem is with all these tiny black and red ants. They are fast and
they
are PLENTIFUL and they BITE if you aren't paying attention. I'm honestly
afraid to go out and weed half the time because I don't want these
little
suckers on me. I have this section of my garden where I'm growing black
eyed
peas, cucumbers and hyacinth beans. They are, for the most part, shaded
because the sun will burn them to a crisp otherwise. Anyway, the ants
crawl
all over the plants. The peas are the only plants I'm getting a harvest
from.
The others will flower but never develop so I wonder if this just
because of
the hot weather in Phoenix or a result of the ants. The cucumber plants
are
starting to look yellow and I see holes in a few leaves. Also, it just
seems
there are parts of the plant that is bunched up that don't want to grow
out
and I see tons of ants on them in those parts.

I found a couple preying mantis and put them in the garden but I don't
think
even they could have a big enough appetite for all these ants! LOL

I'm sure these tiny ants help with the soil too and perhaps the plants
but
they almost seem a hindrance when they bite and crawl over all the
plants I
have.

Perhaps there are some other plants to put there that attract the ants
so
they aren't on my veggies so much? I have some nasturtium in that area
but
they haven't flowered, they probably have too much shade.

Any experience or advice would be appreciated. Sorry for the long
post.


Amdro.

It'll cure all your ills. ;-)

I let my plethora of earthworms aerate my soil...
I don't need to freekin ants! lol

K.

--
Sprout the Mung Bean to reply...

,,Cat's Haven Hobby Farm,,Katraatcenturyteldotnet,,


http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...ude=0&user id
=katra