Show Page 4 The Millard County Gazette - August 10 2004 ‘invasion of the Ants’ Can Be Controlled In addition to being a nui- sance ants may contaminate food build dirt mounds on property and cause painful Plants may also be dam- aged by ants building nests under them “All ants look pretty similar” said Loralie Cox Utah State University Extension horticul-bite- s turist “There are however dozens of species that appear around buildings each with unique characteristics influenc- ing methods of control The ants most often submitted for identification at the USU Diagnostic Lab are pavement OAK CITY DAYS August 20 & 21 2004 August 20 Friday 6:30 pm Oak City Days Parade: (entries call Karla Dutson 8463042) 7:30 pm Ice Cream Social ($25 a dish) Needle in a Haystack & Rook Tournament 8:00 pm “Tomb Stone Tales” (visit the cemetery!) & Civil War Era Demonstrations 21st Saturday August 7:00 am 5K Race 8:00 am Horse Race 9:00 am Turkey Shoot 11:00 am Choir Concert 11:00 - 2:00 Dinner (12 & over $5 12:00 yrs $3 under 5 free) 1 - 4:00 pm 50’s Historical Display 1:00 - 4:00 pm Craft Booths and Oak City General Store (contact Debbie Visser at 846-206- 5 to arrange for a booth- - $5) 1:00 - ? Concessions 2:00 pm Children’s Games 2:00 pm Hula Hoop Contest (Bring your own hula hoop) pm 2:00 pm Horse Shoe Tournament 2:30 pm Bubble gum blowing contest (Bring your own gum) 2:45 Pig in the Bucket Game (Bring your own broom stick) 3:00 - 4:00 pm Mud Volley Ball pm 4:00 - 5:00 pm Live Trout Catch 5:00 - 6:30 pm Young Women Vs Women Softball Game 6:30 - 8:00 pm Young Men Vs Real Men Softball Game 8:30 - 11:00 pm Dance under the stars (Music by the Moonlighters)"- - C ) ants and carpenter ants Knowing which ant a home- owner has often requires the help of an entomologist” Ants are social insects that live in colonies Cox said There may be any- where from hundreds to millions of each in ants Within colony each colony are or more one J queens e33s grub-hk- e asknC) as they forage message (pheromone) that sticks to the trail for long periods of time In some species the ants on the trail are so numerous they may be followed back to their nest” Ants have a wide range of food preferences feeding on sweet foods greasy materials starchy and all kinds of animal materials she said Ants often like the same foods humans do “Effectively controlling ants requires a combination of removing sources of food removing pheromone trails with cleaning solutions caulking entry points and eliminating active nests” said Cox “Homeowners tend to spray immediately when they see ants in the house which represent only a minority of the colony Eliminating the queen and others in the nest is the only effective control” Ant bait and insecticides may be used to help control infestations Cox noted When bait is used foraging ants take it back to the nest and feed it to the queen and other colony substances plant and Specialist that pupate into worker ants The worker ants are the ones most often seen larvae food source and their nest This invisible trail is a chemical for food and water They then deliver the food to the colony and also care for the queen and her developing brood “During certain times of the year ant colonies produce winged ants that emerge from the nest to mate and establish new colonies” she said “When this takes place inside a building it indicates there is a nest somewhere within establishment of Fortunately new colonies from indoor swarmers is rare However numerous winged ants can be disturbing and are often mistaken for termites also develop “Termites wings swarm and look similar to winged ants Upon close examination however ants have a narrow (pinched) waist like a wasp while termites are virtually the same width from end to end” Ant colonies or nests are usually located close to food and water sources Cox said Some ants nest in the ground often under concrete slabs or rocks Other species nest in wood such as fence posts dead logs and old trees Ants don’t eat wood as termites do Instead they dig or hollow out a cavity to use as a nest “Ants found indoors are searching for food” Cox explained “After finding a supply they leave a trail for others to follow between the members destroying the entire colony Initially there be an increased number of ants around the bait This indicates they’re feeding and taking it back to the nest Most ant bait is a combination of boric acid or borax and sweetwill ener “Insecticides may be used as a drench on ant nests" she said “Always follow label instructions and do not use insecticides when using bait Homeowners have used boiling water to pour on nests with some success” The most important way to eliminate ants is to be vigilant Cox concluded Scouf for the insects and treat them when populations are small When ants appear indoors it indicates there is a large population somewhere outdoors MESOTHELIOMA OR LUNG CANCER Did you know that being exposed to Asbestos dust can cause Lung Cancer 20 to 30 years after exposure? 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