Patent ID: 6609330
Filing Date: 2003-08-26
Classification: A01M

Abstract:
An apparatus for preventing fire ants from gaining access to a select area having a defined access path, comprising:means for providing a low impedance electrical stimulating source in the defined access path that, when activated, attracts fire ants to contact the stimulating source and become agitated to a point that ants from a common colony attack each other; and means for activating the low impedance electrical stimulating source to cause the fire ants to cluster around and contact the electrical stimulating source such that current passes through the fire ants, the fire ants becoming agitated as a result of the contact with the electrical stimulating source, such that the fire ants fall away from the electrical stimulating source and away from the select area; wherein said electrical stimulating source has an amplitude that is low enough not to kill the ants or harm other beings; wherein the low impedance electrical stimulating source is an AC electrical source operating at a predetermined nominal frequency that varies as a function of load across the access path.