Hello Walter and All,

Walter wrote:
> Don't you have fire-ants in Missouri?  Down here in Louisiana we have lots
of them  Personally, I prefer fire-ants.
 They may be taking out some new-hatched snakes too.  If so, good for them.

I haven't seen any fire ants in Missouri unless a few hitch hiked back on
bees from Texas. I grew up around fire ants in Florida. old Timers used to
say your best hive would be the hive close to the fire ant nest. I never sat
a hive close to a fire ant nest but I have watched Texas beekeepers set a
semi load and never give  the location of a fire ant nest any concern.


As a kid running through the woods in Florida barefoot we would run through
a fire ant nest  every once in a while by accident. . I was always amazed
how many would get on us . Real eye opener. red welts. About the only time
fire ants bothered us was when we stepped on the nest. I would not want to
work a beehive standing on a fire ant nest .

Bob