Patent Publication Number: US-2005120617-A1

Title: Fire ant control method and apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates generally to the field of insect control. More specifically the present invention relates to a method of and apparatus for disrupting the reproductive and food gathering activities of colonies of ants, and especially of fire ants, by placing ice onto an ant mound to create a sustained low temperature on the mound upper surface and thereby to arrest the growth of or eliminate the colony, or by placing ice along a desired barrier line to keep ants from crossing the barrier. The slow rate at which ice melts at most ambient temperatures assures that the lowered temperature produced by the ice can be sustained for a sufficient time to have a significant impact on necessary maintenance activities of an ant colony, and the melting ice is harmless to the environment. The duration of the treatment can be pre-set by selecting appropriate volumes, sizes and shapes of pieces of ice in relation to a given ambient temperature.  
      In a first version of the method, a quantity of ice, whether in crushed, chopped, cubed or block form, is distributed over the upper surface of an ant mound and permitted to remain until it entirely melts, so that the ice and the cold water dripping from the ice severely lower the temperature of the mound upper surface and slow, disable or disorient ants in their food gathering and mating activities so that the colony is either diminished or eliminated. Additionally or alternatively to covering the mound with ice, a quantity of ice is suspended over the mound and after a time delay elapses is dropped onto the mound to extend the length of time that ice rests on the mound. Snow, snowice or ice mold apparatus is provided for forming an ice block for placement directly onto an ant mound, forming an ice block having an inward depression which fits fully over and around the mound, entirely enclosing the mound while the ice block melts. Another version of the method provides an ant free area where the selected area is covered by a ground cover sheet and then is enclosed by an ice barrier placed around the sheet perimeter for observing and optionally photographing the activities of ants in a nearby ant mound. An ice suspension apparatus is further provided for suspending one or more quantities of ice a distance above an ant mound. A mobile ice making apparatus for producing and dispensing crushed or chopped ice is provided, such as for dispensing ice onto a mound for along a desired barrier line. The mobile ice making apparatus preferably includes a conventional tractor or off-road vehicle fitted with a water tank and ice forming and ice crushing or chopping equipment and an ice pump for creating a flow of snow or slush for depositing onto an ant mound or along a barrier line.  
      2. Description of the Prior Art  
      There have long been methods and devices intended to combat and eliminate ant colonies. Some have environmentally hazardous chemicals to kill ants. Others have applied low temperature liquids which are gaseous at ambient temperatures, such as liquid nitrogen and liquid carbon dioxide, to ant mounds to freeze the ants. A problem with these chilling and freezing methods has been that the low temperature liquids quickly evaporate and the duration of low temperate application is too brief to have its maximum effect.  
      One such freezing method is disclosed in Tallon, U.S. Pat. No. 5,027,546, issued on Jul. 2, 1991, discloses a non-toxic method of exterminating insects including ants, including the step of enveloping an insect colony with liquid nitrogen and maintaining the envelopment and resulting low temperature for two to five minutes. Another is Kirley, U.S. Pat. No. 4,413,756, issued on Nov. 8, 1983, teaches an aerosol insect exterminator device with a cap enclosure which releases an aerosol so that it expands suddenly to form an extremely cold gas for freezing any insect trapped in the cap enclosure. Schmittmann, U.S. Pat. No. 5,394,643, issued Mar. 7, 1995 reveals a fumigant fluid treatment method in which cold carbon dioxide gas is dispensed from a high pressure container into an insect nest to form carbon dioxide snow in the nest. Ammons, U.S. Pat. No. 6,205,702, issued on Mar. 27, 2001 teaches an insect control system involving enveloping an insect colony in carbon dioxide to incapacitate the insects.  
      Dunn, et al., U.S. Pat. No. Oct. 19, 1976; Martin, et. al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,401,449 issued on Aug. 30, 1983; and Nelson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,364, issued on Apr. 9, 1991 disclose a conventional method for making slush products for purposes of example. Hedman, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,327,812, issued on Dec. 11, 2001 discloses a method of killing organisms and of removing toxins in enclosures using a stream of hot air and temperature sensing probes.  
      It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for disrupting ant colony food gathering and reproductive activities, particularly of a fire ant colony, to diminish or eliminate the colony and to prevent the colony from spreading to new mounds.  
      It is another object of the present invention to provide such a method which is harmless to the environment and entirely safe for the user.  
      It is finally an object of the present invention to provide such an apparatus which is simple in its design and inexpensive to manufacture or construct.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention accomplishes the above-stated objectives, as well as others, as may be determined by a fair reading and interpretation of the entire specification.  
      A method is provided of disrupting the activities of ants in an ant mound having an ant mound upper surface, the method including the steps of providing a quantity of snow or snow ice; placing the quantity of ice onto an ant mound upper surface; and permitting the quantity of ice to remain as the ice melts, so that the ice and cold water dripping from the ice lower the temperature of the ant mound upper surface to create a sustained low temperature on the ant mound upper surface and thereby disrupt the activities of ants in the ant mound.  
      The quantity of ice preferably includes at least one of: snow, snowice, ice slush, crushed ice, chopped ice and an ice block. The method optionally includes the additional steps of placing a first spacer element formed at least in part of ice on one of: the quantity of ice and the ant mound upper surface; and placing an ice block on top of the first spacer element; so that the quantity of ice receives heat from the ant mound and melts faster than the ice block and so that the first spacer element melts and subsequently permits the ice block to drop onto the ant mound upper surface to extend ice contact time on the ant mound. The method optionally includes the additional step of embedding a quantity of insulated capsules in the ice block for release when the ice block melts on the ant mound. The method optionally includes the yet additional steps of placing a second spacer element formed at least in part of ice on top of the ice block; and placing an additional ice block on top of the second spacer element; so that the additional ice block drops onto the ant mound after the second spacer element melts, to further extend ice contact time on the ant mound.  
      The method optionally includes the additional steps of suspending a quantity of ice over an ant mound with a time release device so that the quantity of ice drops onto the ant mound after a certain length of time. The method preferably includes the additional step of selecting the duration of ice melting on the ant mound, by selecting a volume, size and shape of ice pieces and spacer elements in relation to ambient temperature. Wherein the ant mound is located in soil contained within a flower pot having a flower pot base and a flower pot base, and the quantity of ice preferably is placed onto the soil within the flower pot and also is placed around of the flower pot base periphery.  
      An ice block mold apparatus is provided for forming an ice block for placement onto an ant mound having a certain general ant mound size and shape, the ice block apparatus including a mold side wall contoured to define an internal mold cavity with an inward bulge structure; and mold opening for releasing a formed ice block from the mold; so that filling the ice block mold with water and then freezing the water produces an ice block having an inward depression formed by the inward bulge structure which fits over and around the ant mound, enclosing the ant mound while the ice block melts. The inward bulge structure preferably has substantially the size and shape of the ant mound.  
      A method of providing an ant free area is provided, including the steps of placing a ground cover sheet onto a selected area of ground; depositing a line of ice along perimeter of the ground cover sheet to define an ant barrier covering the desired ant free area. The ice preferably is one of: snow, snowice, ice slush, crushed ice and chopped ice. The ground cover sheet is a flexible sheet of a suitable size for supporting a human observer.  
      An ice suspension apparatus is provided for suspending a quantity of ice over an ant mound, the apparatus including an ice suspension structure including a tubular retaining wall having an open suspension structure upper end and having an open suspension structure lower end for fitting around an ant mound; and an ice suspension structure for retaining the quantity of ice a distance above the ant mound. The quantity of ice preferably is an ice block and the ice suspension structure optionally includes a progressive taper in the retaining wall inwardly in a downward direction so that an ice block of suitable size can be fitted through the open suspension structure upper end and lowered until the ice block wedges within the tapering retaining wall a distance above the ant mound.  
      Once again, the quantity of ice preferably includes snow, snowice or a first ice block and the open suspension structure upper end includes a retaining wall upper rim and the first ice block suspension structure includes an ice block support bracket engaging the retaining wall upper rim, the bracket projecting radially inwardly from the retaining wall upper rim; so that a first ice block may be fitted onto the block support bracket and thereby suspended above the ant mound until the first ice block melts enough to be released from suspension and drops onto the ant mound. The first ice block preferably has a first ice block lower surface with a first ice block groove and the first ice block support bracket preferably has an upward hook segment for fitting into the first ice block groove for more securely engaging the first ice block.  
      The apparatus optionally additionally includes a spacer element formed of ice and a second ice block positioned above the first ice block engaged by the ice suspension structure, and spaced above the first ice block with the spacer element resting on top of the first ice block, the second ice block resting on the spacer element. The apparatus may additionally include a spacer element formed of ice and a second ice block positioned above the first ice block engaged by the ice suspension structure, and spaced above the first ice block with the spacer element resting on top of the first ice block, the second ice block resting on the spacer element. The spacer elements preferably include upright ice cylinders, that can be made from snow or snow ice.  
      The quantity of ice preferably includes a first ice block for placement on an ant mound; a spacer element formed of ice resting on the first ice block; and a second ice block resting on top of the spacer element. The apparatus optionally includes an insulated time release capsule contained within one of the ice blocks.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      Various other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following discussion taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a top view of the mobile ice making apparatus.  
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 3  is a rear view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 4  is a front view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 5  is a top view of a ground cover sheet surrounded by an ant barrier in the form of a line of slushed, crushed or chopped ice adjacent to an ant mound.  
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the ground cover sheet and ant mound shown in  FIG. 5 .  
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional side view of an ant mound covered by a layer of slushed, crushed or chopped ice.  
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a first ice block with ice cylinder spacing elements on top of the first ice block at each ice block corner and a second ice block positioned to be lowered onto the spacing elements.  
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an ice suspension apparatus including a retaining wall with its open suspension structure lower end fitted around an ant mound, showing a portion of the retaining wall cut away to reveal a first ice block wedged in the downwardly tapering retaining wall and a second ice block spaced above the first ice block on ice cylinder spacer elements.  
       FIGS. 10 and 11  are perspective views of plants in flower pots and slushed, snow, snowice, crushed or chopped ice placed on the soil around each plant within the flower pot and also placed on the ground around the base of each flower pot.  
       FIG. 12  is top view of the ice suspension apparatus retaining wall of  FIG. 9 , in which the ice suspension means includes a circumferential series of ice block support brackets engaging the retaining wall upper rim at the open suspension structure upper end, the brackets projecting radially inwardly from the retaining wall upper rim where an ice block is fitted onto the block support brackets, the brackets having inward support segments and upward hook segments fitting into a groove in the ice block lower surface, or other time delay devices.  
       FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional side view of the ice suspension apparatus of  FIG. 12 .  
       FIG. 14  is a top view prior to inversion of an ice mold apparatus for forming an ice block for placement directly onto an ant mound, showing the mold lid and handle.  
       FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional side view of the ice mold apparatus of  FIG. 14 , showing the mold chamber and a mold lid with an inward bulge structure similar in size and shape to the target mound and a mold lid handle.  
       FIG. 16  is a view as in  FIG. 15  except that the mold lid is removed and the mold chamber inverted to release the formed ice block onto an ant mound.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.  
      Reference is now made to the drawings, wherein like characteristics and features of the present invention shown in the various FIGURES are designated by the same reference numerals.  
     The Method Generally  
      Referred generally to  FIGS. 1-16  a method and apparatus are disclosed for disrupting the reproductive and food gathering activities of ants, and especially of fire ants, by placing ice on the upper surface of an ant mound M and the thereby creating a sustained low temperature to arrest the growth of or eliminate the colony, or along a desired barrier line to keep ants from crossing the barrier. The duration of the treatment can be pre-set by selecting appropriate volumes, sizes and shapes of snow, snowice, or ice in relation to a given ambient temperature.  
      The low temperature produced by the present method has several effects on a fire ant colony, and on colonies of other ant species as well. The ice keeps aggressive ants underground, and the prolonged cold interrupts the activity of the nest or mound M. The ability of the ants to forage for food above ground is stopped and the temperature for incubation of ant eggs is altered. Finally a flight ritual during which the ants A mate in which a new ant queen drops to the ground to lay eggs and start a new mound M is prevented, so that the ant colony cannot form new and separate colonies.  
     First Version of Method  
      In a first version of the method, a quantity of ice  10 , whether snow, snowice, crushed, chopped or cubed, ice slush or in block form, is distributed or placed over the upper surface of an ant mound M and permitted to remain until it entirely melts, so that the ice and the cold water dripping from the ice severely lower the temperature of the mound upper surface MUS and slow, disable or disorient ants in their food gathering and mating activities so that the colony is either diminished or eliminated. See  FIG. 7 . If the mound M is located within a flower pot  20 , the ice  10  is spread over the soil within the pot wall  22  and preferably also is placed on the ground G to encircle the base of the pot  20  to prevent passage of ants A from carrying food in and out of the pot drain holes (not shown). See  FIGS. 10 and 11 .  
      Additionally or alternatively to covering the mound M with ice  10 , an ice block  10   a  is suspended over the mound M for a certain time and then dropped onto the mound M after a time delay, to extend the time in which ice is resting on the ant mound M. A first spacer element formed at least in part of ice is placed on one of: the quantity of ice  10  on the mound M and the ant mound upper surface; and an ice block is placed on top of the first spacer element; so that the quantity of ice initially placed on the ant mound M receives heat from the ground through the ant mound M and melts faster than the suspended ice block  10   a  and so that the first spacer element  102  melts and subsequently permits the ice block  10   a  to drop onto the ant mound upper surface MUS to extend ice  10  contact time on the ant mound M. The method optionally further includes the steps of placing a second spacer element  102  formed at least in part of ice on top of the ice block  102 ; and placing an additional ice block  10   a   1  on top of the second spacer element  102 ; so that the additional ice block  10   a   1  drops onto the ant mound M after the second spacer element  102  melts, to further extend ice  10  contact time on the ant mound M. An ant control substance such as a poison containing capsule or pellet  150  optionally is contained within one or both ice blocks  10   a  and  10   a   1  so that after the block melts on ant mound M, pellet  150  dissolves or ruptures and deposits the substance on the mound M.  
     Second Version of Method  
      Another version of the method provide, an ant free area A enclosed by an ice barrier  40  for observing and optionally photographing the activities of ants A in an adjacent or nearby ant mound M. A ground cover sheet  30  such as a rubber mat with a built in pillow  34 , of a suitable size for retaining a human observer and any needed equipment, such as a camera and cam-corder, is placed on the ground G in nearby proximity to an ant mound M. Then an ice barrier  40  line of slush, snow, snowice, crushed or chopped ice  10   b  is deposited under and around the perimeter of the sheet  30  until a desired area  32  of the sheet upper surface  30   a  is entirely enclosed by a line of snow, ice, snowice, crushed or chopped ice  10   b,  the line of snow, snowice, slush, ice  10   b  defining an ant barrier  40 . There can be a wind indicator to aid in keeping ants from blowing on a person standing or sitting in the ice.  
     First Preferred Embodiment  
      Referring to  FIGS. 14, 15  and  16 , an ice mold apparatus  50  is disclosed for forming an ice block  10   a  for placement directly onto an ant mound M, so that the ice block  10   a  has a preferred shape best suited for use with the present method. The ice mold apparatus  50  has a mold side wall defining a mold chamber  52  and a mold lid  56  with an inward bulge structure  54  similar in size and shape to the target mound M, so that filling the mold apparatus  50  with water  12  and then freezing the water  12  produces an ice block  10   a  having an inward depression  14  which fits fully over, around and in close proximity to the mound upper surface MUS, entirely enclosing the mound M while the ice block  10   a  melts. The mold lid  56  has a handle  58 . The mold chamber  52  with lid  56  removed has an open mold upper end to permit ice block  10   a  release by inverting mold apparatus  50  after ice block  10   a  forming.  
     Second Preferred Embodiment  
      Referring to  FIGS. 8, 9 ,  12  and  13 , an ice suspension apparatus  70  is provided for suspending ice, preferably in the form of one or more ice blocks  10   a  over an ant mound M, the apparatus  70  taking the form of an ice suspension structure  80  including a tubular ant retaining wall  74  having an open suspension structure lower end  76  for fitting against the ground G around an ant mound M and has ice block suspension means  80  for retaining the ice block  10   a  a distance above the mound M, and having an open suspension structure upper end  78 . The ant retaining wall  74  preferably includes heat transfer insulation to sustain the suspended ice block  10   a  against melting for a longer time.  
      The ice block suspension means  80  preferably takes the form of a progressive taper in the ant retaining wall  74  inwardly in a downward direction so that an ice block  10   a  of suitable size can be fitted through open suspension structure upper end  78  and lowered until the ice block  10   a  wedges within the tapering ant retaining wall  74  a distance above the ant mound M. For this embodiment, a container with its bottom wall removed may function as the ant retaining wall  74 .  
      Alternatively the suspension means  80  may take the form of a circumferential series of ice block support brackets  82  which engage the retaining wall upper rim  78   a  at the open suspension structure upper end  78 , the brackets  82  projecting radially inwardly from the retaining wall upper rim  78   a  where an ice block  10   a  is fitted onto the block support brackets  82 . The brackets  82  optionally have inward support segments  84  and upward hook segments  86  for fitting into a groove  92  provided in the ice block lower surface  94 . Still alternatively the retaining wall upper rim  78   a  may itself function as the suspension means  80 , where the ice block  10   a  is simply laid across and rests on the retaining wall upper rim  78   a.  Regardless of the structure of the suspension means  80 , a second ice block  10   a  is optionally positioned above the first ice block  10   a  engaged by the suspension means  80 , with spacer elements  102  resting on top of the first ice block  10   a,  and the second ice block  10   a   1  resting on top of the spacer elements  102 . The spacer elements  102  preferably are upright ice cylinders. Slush, crushed or chopped ice  10   b  alternatively may be suspended above a mound M.  
     Mobile Ice Making Apparatus  
      A mobile ice making apparatus  110  for producing and dispensing slush, crushed or chopped ice  10   b  is provided, such as for delivering ice onto an ant mound M or along a barrier  40  line. See  FIGS. 1-4 . The ice making apparatus  110  preferably includes a conventional tractor or off-road vehicle  112  pivotally secured to a hitch on a delivery vehicle  120 , the vehicle  112  having a trailer floor panel  114  and trailer wheels with tires  116 , onto which is mounted a water tank  132  in fluid communication with a conventional freezing and slushing, crushing or chopping unit  134 , which drops the snow, snowice, slush, crushed or chopped ice  10   b  it produces into an ice storage chamber  136  beneath the ice slushing, crushing or chopping unit  134 . An ice pump  138  is secured to and in fluid communication with the ice storage chamber  136  and a flexible hose  142  extends from the ice pump  138  for delivery of the ice  10   b  from the storage chamber  136  onto an ant mound M or along an ice barrier  40  line. One or more solenoid valves  144  preferably are provided at the forward and/or rearward end of the flexible hose  142  to activate and deactivate the flow of ice  10   b  as needed during a given ice application job.  
      While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms or certain embodiments or modifications which it has assumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.