Yikes! Ants!

smoke freak

StickBurners

Original poster

Jul 14, 2007

817

46

Kansas

• Jul 3, 2008

• #1

Gotta ant problem... Got one stack-o-hickory thats loaded with ants!
Its next to a stack-o-pecan next to a stack-o-mesquite next to mulberry next to ... well you get the picture. Only the one stack -o-hickory has ants. Got another stack-o-hickory with no ants but this stack is so bad that trying to split a single log releases about a kazillion little black ants. I cant even pick up a piece of it without dozens of them crawlin on me. These are NOT carpenter ants which I would expect to nest it wood. Little black ants. And they have made this whole stack-o-hickory unusable.


Any sugestions as to riddin my self of this problem???
Obviously sprays arent an option...

 

supervman

Smoking Fanatic

May 25, 2008

926

11

Minnesota

• Jul 3, 2008

• #2

That bites man.
I'd look up Homemade Ant Killer or something of that sort of derivation on the net and possibly you can save some wood w no toxic effects?


And BTW I've never had smoked ants TO MY KNOWLEDGE !

 

bbq bubba

Master of the Pit

OTBS Member

Feb 12, 2007

3,646

12

new baltimore, mi

• Jul 3, 2008

• #3

Burn it all.

 

geek with fire

Master of the Pit

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Aug 5, 2007

1,089

17

Rural out-skirts of Sedalia, MO

• Jul 3, 2008

• #4

I did a little googling and the one solution that I thought fit well around these parts was a combination of grits and nutrisweet (aspertame). Supposedly aspertame was developed as a safe pestiside and the grits swell up and cause the little bastages to explode. No clue if it works or not, but I'm getting hungry just thinking about smoked polenta.

 

flyin'illini

Smoking Fanatic

★ Lifetime Premier ★

Oct 27, 2007

879

11

Tulsa

• Jul 3, 2008

• #5

Smoke'em. Ant eggs with tortillas are an appetizer in Mexico. (it's good)

 

pitrow

Smoking Fanatic

Dec 13, 2007

474

10

Cornelius, Oregon

• Jul 3, 2008

• #6

napalm

 

erain

Master of the Pit

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Feb 2, 2008

2,678

30

cental minnesota

• Jul 3, 2008

• #7

hate to see whole pile go to waste, try preburning... think that would toastem to nothingness???.

 

travcoman45

Master of the Pit

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Jan 19, 2008

4,118

34

A Holler in North Iowa

• Jul 3, 2008

• #8

Don't know if there is a real "safe" way a gettin rid them critters, specially bein smokin wood. Guess I'd burn the pile an cut my losses fer they decide the rest a the batch looks like home. Sorry friend, that stinks.

I just had a thought (that's dangerous) Wonder ifin a feller tarped the pile an started pumpin it full a smoke fer a good long bit if they'd think there was a fire an move out? Might be worth a shot ifin nothin else it'll make the neighbors wonder what in the sam hill yer doin!

 

smoke freak

StickBurners

Original poster

Thread starter

Jul 14, 2007

817

46

Kansas

• Jul 3, 2008

• #9

Hey Trav. With my luck they would move into my house! Im thinkin I might try some of those bait traps where they take the bait back and it kills the queen and all. Have seen them work in other situations. Just gotta keep the dogs away from them.

 

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Reactions: greatfx1959

cinnamonkc

Smoking Fanatic

OTBS Member

Mar 7, 2008

803

52

New Hampshire

• Jul 3, 2008

• #10

I wonder if that garlic spray would work like it does on the flies, mosquitos and such. I'd try it at least. Might add a bit of garlic flavor to the meat too!!

 

rwc565

Smoke Blower

Dec 26, 2007

107

10

Sand Springs Oklahoma

• Jul 3, 2008

• #11

I say just use the wood as you normally would. The ants burning will not affect the smoke, they aint big enough. I had ants in some of my wood and I still used it,I could not tell the difference. Besides we've all ate worse things than ants!

 

roscoe dog

Fire Starter

Feb 27, 2008

51

10

• Jul 3, 2008

• #12

Drown them. Put enough water in a garbage can and submerge the wood.

 

cinnamonkc

Smoking Fanatic

OTBS Member

Mar 7, 2008

803

52

New Hampshire

• Jul 3, 2008

• #13

I think he was saying he can't even chop it to be able to use it because they swarmed him so bad...

I like Roscoe's idea of drowning them...

 

heapomeat

Smoke Blower

Jan 5, 2008

137

10

Cold Damp Rainy Seattle

• Jul 3, 2008

• #14

oh heck just use the wood in your smoker anyways, what's the problem really? With the ant juices, you won't have to pre-soak the wood, and it might lend a nice flavor? (grins)

Really, why not still use the wood?

You could always put the wood in the freezer a log at a time if you just want to kill 'em before smoking them.

 

mcp9

Meat Mopper

Jan 31, 2008

177

10

Foley, AL

• Jul 3, 2008

• #15

black ants dont bite. act like there not there, and keep burnin!

 

smoke freak

StickBurners

Original poster

Thread starter

Jul 14, 2007

817

46

Kansas

• Jul 12, 2008

• #16

Here's the scoop. I couldnt even pick up a log without gettin swarmed. Try to split a log and ants were everywhere!

Bought some ant stakes. Theyre baits where the workers take the bait back to the nest, which just happened to be in my wood. Around here hickory is a hot commodity, pecan even more so. Losing this wood was not an option! Within one week, the wood is almost ant free. Split the logs and carried them to the smoker without a lick of trouble. And thats it , problem solved.

 

smoke freak

StickBurners

Original poster

Thread starter

Jul 14, 2007

817

46

Kansas

• Jul 25, 2008

• #17

...huh?...

 

coyote

Master of the Pit

Feb 17, 2008

1,019

14

• Jul 25, 2008

• #18

smoke freak it was spam..and it is reported..

 

smoke freak

StickBurners

Original poster

Thread starter

Jul 14, 2007

817

46

Kansas

• Jul 25, 2008

• #19

...huh?...

 

richoso1

Gone but not forgotten. RIP

OTBS Member

SMF Premier Member

Jun 21, 2007

8,432

41

• Jul 25, 2008

• #20

I wouldn't trust using that wood, sorry to say. Make a bonfire...