I had mentioned fire ants in my presentation and my instructor had a few ideas. But I also spotted a discussion about them on Mastodon and joined in. This yielded some great info on this thread here. Here are the relevant excerpts:

myrmepropagandist @futurebird @CStamp @jericevans

There are probably things a park could do to reduce their numbers. They are not very successful in their native range. It's not like they are super ants. They just thrive on disturbed soil, human construction, basically all the things we do to make it easy for them.

myrmepropagandist @futurebird@sauropods.win @CStamp @jericevans

They can't be contained. But, they can settle into something more like the niche they live in their home range. There they are not numerous. They are opportunistic, nesting near storm-damaged trees, forest margins, places recently touched by fire. They are the “first ants in” and they can't dig packed soil or deal with real competition.

The way we tend lawns, cut down trees, clear brush, and plow soil is a delight for these ants. Perennial native plants are their enemy.

Coach Spore Diesel @springdiesel@spore.social @futurebird @CStamp @jericevans

And this applies to Solenopsis invicta? I have them. I'm also in permaculture school and am working on a school project to design for my land. If perennial native vegetation works against then, that would be awesome. I don't really want to use pesticides.

myrmepropagandist @futurebird @springdiesel @CStamp @jericevans

Take a look at the inaturalist page for Solenopsis invicta. Look at their nest and the places where they are found. They like direct sun, water, and above all disturbed soil. A shady garden with hard packed clay soil is something they will struggle with. And these same conditions will attract ants that attack them.

Learn to spot Dorymyrmex bureni, these non-stinging ants love to eat young fire ant queens and overlap with them in most places.

myrmepropagandist @futurebird @springdiesel @CStamp @jericevans

Dorymyrmex bureni likes sandy sidewalk cracks, sand, hot places, and ruining the day of fire ant colonies when they send out their alates.

Where it isn't possible to make a garden fire ant proof it could be made to attract Dorymyrmex bureni more.

So that was fantastic! This user is a huge fan and hobbyist with ants, super knowledgeable. And I stumbled onto this thread today.

Alex Wild @alexwild@mastodon.online On a research trip to Argentina many years ago, we were unexpectedly delayed several hours to clear permit paperwork at El Palmar National Park.

So I poked around with my camera instead and found a trail of fire ants being harassed by an ant-decapitating fly. #Ants #Phoridae #Insects

Fabian Egli @fabianegli@fosstodon.org @alexwild This is the first time I hear of ant decapitating flies. How surprising! And they produce torpedo shaped eggs. There's so much great information in the Wikipedia entry. Also, that their introduction to America was the first instance of a successful introduction of an organism to regulate another which is invasive and detrimental to the local ecosystem 🤓 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudacteon_tricuspis

So maybe if I can cultivate some of these predators or fire ants, that can help the situation. Plus more perennial native vegetation!