Did you know that teeny tiny ants bite? Hard?
Especially when you step into their nest? Where they have a bunch of larvae? Neither did I. I was planting in one of our boxes this
afternoon and unbeknownst to me, I stood in their nest. I walked away and was being bitten on my left
ankle. I was shocked to see my shoe
covered in ants; but only the left shoe.
I tell you what, those buggers bite hard!
I had to go back to where I had been standing to see just
what it was I had done. The area was
swarming with those little grease or sugar ants that seem to invade the house
in the spring. I poked around a bit to
find the nest was full of white larvae—it is unlikely it is their offspring
because they were twice the size as the ants.
I don’t like to use chemicals to destroy these things, but this was icky
and I’ve been battling with them inside, too.
So I sprinkled the area with cornmeal.
I had heard once that if they ingest it, they will explode as it expands
in their systems. A few hours later I
went to look at the nest—and it was covered in ant parts. Apparently what I read can be verified on
Snopes! At least for those ants. I also put some on the ant hills of those big
black carpenter ants, but I don’t think they are taking the bait.
Of course, the irony in all of this is that our daughter is
studying leaf-cutter ants in Costa Rica.
They are trying to figure out how to keep the ants in the ecosystem,
even when the ants destroy the cash crops.
Perhaps all they need to do is sprinkle corn meal around the edge of the
gardens?
Dear God, the ants were biting, the humidity was sweltering,
and I had sweat running into my eyes, but the annuals are planted and providing
beauty on our deck and in our gardens.
Sometimes, we have to take the bad with the good to fully appreciate the
gifts within creation. A few notes of
particular thanks tonight, Lord. Thank
you for the two successful surgeries I was praying for. Thank you for the many hands which worked
together to finish clearing the debris left from the storm. Thank you for restoring electricity to a few
more homes and businesses today. To you
be the glory! Amen.