Fire Ants in hammock?

**iggy** · 07-28-2010, 09:47

Hey Ed,
Grew up in Fire ant country, Ocala Florida. They just love the soft sand down there. Anyways, never seen them climb a tree. Not saying they never had, just I've never seen it. I'd say you'd probably have more problems with the Argentine and other sugar ants that will climb anything and anywhere to get some goodies.
Maybe some kind of barrier like a lid from a coffee can with some sticky stuff on it. I'll bet as long as you keep food out of your hammock, there shouldn't be any problem. I've never had any ants crawl over the suspension to GET me. I have had spiders and other weird bugs fall out of the tree into the hammock with me...that's why I like a bug net!

-----Iggy---

**gunner76** · 07-28-2010, 10:18

My wife and I were hanging in the back yard last night and I had to go back in the house as chiggers had gotten in my hammock. Right now my back itches like crazy and my wife says I got little red welts all over.

**Hawk-eye** · 07-28-2010, 10:32

I hear ya ... chiggers eat ticks in NC for snacks!

**Barefoot Child** · 07-28-2010, 11:19

All those nasty little critters get the treatment...PERMETHRIN...it is up to them if they will be around for a second dose.

**pgibson** · 07-28-2010, 11:25

This thread makes me happy that I live in ID and camp mostly at elevation (insert shudder creepy crawly feeling smiley here)

**LostCause** · 07-28-2010, 11:35

+1 Permethrin coated tree straps.
I have never seen a fire ant in a tree. I have seen them take over lawn lights, potted plants and decimate lawns but haven't seen one in a tree.

There are plenty of ants that will take over a tree though and they can have a pretty painful bite. My mother-in-law parked under a tree for shade only to have ants take over her car via a low hanging branch. One got into her A/C system and flew out of her vent and bit her on the eye.

I have hung my hammock on this tree several times with permethrin treated straps and they leave my rig alone. Though in my experience permethrin does absolutely nothing to deter spiders.

**NotToWorry** · 07-28-2010, 11:48

Thanks to everyone for all the great responses. Permethrin rocks!

**SmokeHouse** · 07-28-2010, 12:01

Nottoworry,,, here is a site that may help... lots of fire ants here over the last few years... http://www.ehow.com/how_4475017_get-...se-poison.html

**gunner76** · 07-28-2010, 14:34

All those nasty little critters get the treatment...PERMETHRIN...it is up to them if they will be around for a second dose

Can't find anybody selling it (Permethrin) around here. Going to have to order it online. Couple of places tried to tell me that is was dangerous and was had been banned. Got a good laugh on that and set them straight.