Ken, you need to find the source of the problem..Usually when there are ants, there are either aphids or scale bug. Check the tree for pests. Look over and under leaves, on stems, trunk. Do you know what to look for? Toni

Ken,
I live in the south and it sounds like it might be fire ants. The bed you describe sounds like our fire ant beds, are the ants dark redish in color? If you disturb the bed do the ants swarm out? If you are stung by one it burns like fire (hence the name fire ant). I use Fire Ant Killer by Bayer, I think I got mine at Lowes, Home Depot or Walmart. Almost any home gardening center should have it if there are fire ants in the area. It is safe for lawns,flower beds, ground covers and around trees and shrubs.

Here is a link that might be useful:

Fox, are those all ants??? Wow, that's disgusting if they are..Toni

That looks like the same kind of nests that the ants dig up around here but they aren't Fire ants, thank God!
Karyn

Toni,
These are wicked little creatures, they sting by the hundreds if you disturb the nest. You can do a google search on images for fire ants and there are some pictures of what they can do. You can't get rid of them only control them.
Sherry

foxslipper,

Oh S**T! I remember those ants from when I lived in GA. Needless to say they are the reason you wouldn't catch me dead going back.

I accidently stood on top of a nest (in shorts and flip flops) while picking wild blackberries just three days after moving to the state. They stung me so bad I barely made it back to the house!

I had never seen fire ants before so I did not know to be on the lookout for them- and I dang sure didn't know the whole nest would come out and chase you if you disturbed them- AND that they would make a noise while they're chasing you! It was like a scene from a horror movie- I still have nightmares!

It took a year and a half to get rid of the scars from all the stings. Boy I'm glad I don't live there anymore.

If fireants have decided that they want your tree- set it and them on fire and buy a new tree. Lots of love and good luck.

Sherry, these ants do sound like something from hell, especially after reading LittleLemons post. I think I'd pour boiling water on them..they chase u? Literally? And make a noise while they're coming at you? Wow..As much as I'd love living in GA, I wouldn't want to deal w/the bugs. NO way. I hate bugs..I don't think we have them here in IL, but I have seen red ants in the past..wonder if they're the same..Toni

The Bayer fire ant killer is an excellent ant killer. Orthene fire ant killer is also a good product. Pouring hot water on the will only move them.

I've only had a run in with them when I was in Ambergris Cayo, Belize and I'm not sure if they were Fire ants or some other tropical ant. I stepped on a nest and they swarmed and stung the sh*t out of my legs! Not a good thing to happen when you are somewhere that has no medical supplies or facilities. I don't believe that they've made it as far North as Maryland. At least I haven't heard of any in this area.
Karyn

Karyn, like I said, these ants sound like something from a STeven King Novel..lol..they're little terrors. I wonder why so many bugs were created..and also wonder if animals like ant eaters mess with these creatures..I hope poor Ken, who started this thread, doesn't have these ants. They sound like mean little shi**s. Toni

Here is a map of the range of these little devils. If you don't have them you are lucky but then I don't like cold either so I guess I'll just poison them. I hate using chemicals but sometimes you don't have a choice. Years ago the states were fighting them with bait and you could get it free but the chemicals were banned and that was the end of trying to control them.
Sherry

Here is a link that might be useful: Fire Ant Range

Fire ants need to be removed from around the tree as they can and usually do kill the tree. They are well known for killing palm trees by girdling.
Andi

Kenallen, you have not mentioned the state you are in. Here in SE Texas fireants have destroyed citrus trees by completely stripping the bark from the tree.

The commercial fire ant killers really work well. I get these ants here in Florida, and whenever I see evidence, will sprinkle some of the granules around it, and they're soon gone. There are a lot of them available at Home Depot, etc.

In my opinion, sprinkling these granules is something I'd much rather be doing than shoveling snow and scraping ice off my windshield all winter.....

Maggie, I agree with you about shoveling snow and scraping ice..It's a royal pain.
I can deal with a few ants opposed to slipping on an icy walk..LOL.Toni

Yeah - I just left Zone 5 in Illinois to move down here. Loved gardening up there - it's much different down here. But hey, it's fun, and yes, we never need to deal with cold winters again! (I must admit however, that I do miss all of the plants I was able to grow up there........)

Maggie, you are sooo lucky moving where u did..You may not be able to grow some plants we here in Il can, but just think of all the plants you can grow.
Bananas, citrus, bird of paradise, palms and sooo many others. I have a banana in my yard I set in the ground..it's almost as tall as I am, and will soon have to dig up and repot..I'm going to lose most of the tree..If only I lived in a warmer climate I could keep it outside yr round and have real, live bananas..I'll snap a pic of it so you can see what I mean..
If you just moved from IL, you know what I mean about having to bring plants indoors..Right? Where did you live in IL?? Toni

Here is a link that might be useful: RE: Ant Bed Around Meyer Lemon Tree

Maggie it's funny to hear you say that. I'm always saying that I'd love to be in zone 9 or 10 so I could grow my tropical and sub tropical plants outside. If I was I'd probably wish that I was here (zone 7) lol. The grass is always greener.........
Karyn

Karen, I'm sure the grass is greener, and the citrus, palms, birds of paradise..LOL..It's difficult growing tropicals in z5..there's a lot of work involved. And we do our best trying to figure what our plants require. Remember, you're in z7 so you can keep plants out longer or bring them out earlier than I can..IL is quite arid in winter so I have to set out humidifers and fountains. Believe this or not, our elctric bill is much higher in winter than it is in summer..lol..the opposite of everyone else in US..Because we don't use ac or ca our summer electric bill is low..about 48.00 a month..this includes fans, washer and dryer, lights, 3 tvs running, vcr, computers..in winter our utilities rise. That sux..I try duplicating tropcial climates by using fountains, humidifers, and lights. oh well, what can we do? Toni

Our winter utilities are outrageous because of the greenhouses. DH is considering only heating the smaller GH and keeping the large house just over freezing. If he does that then space is definitely going to be an issue. The propane for the GH's was high last winter and I can only imagine that it will be significantly more this year.

I bet if I was in S. Florida I'd miss my bulbs, peonies, lilacs, etc. There's so many beautiful plants that can't grow without a cold dormant period.
Karyn

Karyn, yes I dread winter too..it's scary..w/costs and all.
Karyn, I do enjoy fall..when leaves change color and that smell in the air, but fall leads to winter..snow and ice..I don't mind the snow as much as I do ice, but it's dangerous. and soo cold when u go outside. I wouldn't miss that for anything.
Yes, there are a lot of nice plants we'd leave behind, but enough to make up for it w/tropicals, subtropicals..I wouldn't miss them that much..lol.Toni

You're right, Karyn - you do miss all the things that you had in Zone 5 that you can't have in Zone 10. But at the same time, you make the best of it by learning all about the new things that you can have!

Ken, how is your ant problem doing? Are they still hanging around? I was looking at the thread today and thought I'd ask..those things sound vicious.

Maggie, I agree..soon you'll have a beautiful garden w/tropicals growing outside..and all the new plants you can keep out yr round..and they'll do great..

Karyn, I think since we both love plants, if we moved to Fl, we'd find a good number of plants to place outside..probably no grass and all plants..LOL..Toni