Get some powdered detergent. Sprinkle it around everything you have left. That is the only thing I've found that works,
and sweetannie on the cottage garden forum told me about it. It won't hurt anything else. It won't hurt pets or kids. I use inexpensive Gain from the dollar store. It sounds like you need to hurry. I have never heard of such a thing happening. I sm so sorry!
kay

I wish I could help but I know nothing about them. All I can offer is moral support. The pest control people probably know how to deal with them.

If you know where their nest is, you could put diatomaceous (I probably spelled that wrong) earth on the entrance(s). This will kill any ants that cross it by damaging their exoskeleton. The disadvantages of this are that it will also kill any good guys that come across it, like lady bugs, etc. Also if you don't find all the entrances to the nest, the ants will just start using a different one once they realize that all the ants that go out the east entrance don't come back, or possibly even just dig a new entrance. But it would probably as least slow them down and weaken the colony. You can also use diatomaceous earth as a barrier, such as drawing a circle with it around your garden area, but again this will also kill good guys.

Another thought I have, but this is just a wild guess, is that you might have success using a fungicide on your plants. Since the leaf cutter ants don't actually eat the plants, but eat a fungus that they grow on the composting leaves, it might prevent the fungus from growing and eventually starve the colony. For this to work, you'd probably have to treat everything within their range for a while, so it might not be worth the cost & effort.

Good luck with fighting these guys. I've never seen them in action, don't think I've ever lived in an area where they are, but I've heard they can be very devastating.
Casey

Thank you for the support and ideas. I've worked long hours the past few days and wasn't able to get back here for a few days so I appreciate your help so much.
organic kitten - I love the idea of using detergent. I will get some today! The idea of putting poison into my ground has disturned me but at the same time I know I've got to get a handle on them. Thank you for the idea. Does the detergent actually kill the ants or does it just keep them from eating the plants?
casey 261- I've used diatomaceous earth around my beds but worried about my lizards so didn't apply it very heavily. I will try the detergent first plus we have ant piles scattered on our 5 acres and I can't stand the thought of hurting all of the good things out there.... if the detergent doesn't work I will try more of the diatomaceous earth and see what happenns.
Thank you all for your advice and suggestions.
Sunny

UPDATE: Tonight I put out laundry detergent and pray it works because yesterday I didn't see any activity but tonight I found a large mound in front of the house with thousands of big red ants and followed it about 150 feet to my back flower bed and they are eating my daylilies in the back now. They are traveling approx 300 feet for MY flowers. I'm calling the pest control place again tomorrow because although I don't like poison I must get rid of these. One mound was so large that the night we bought our property we sunk our truck up to the axel on one side when it fell into a large ant mound.
May I ask how I apply the detergent? Do I sprinkle it around my plants and on the mound? I researched and didn't find much on how to use it so any help would be appreciated.
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Sunny

Hello. I think I might have the same problem! I live in Texas and 5 of my Red Tip shrubs disappeared overnight. We blamed deer at first. Then last night my crepe myrtle was almost decimated and a trail of perfectly cut leaves were leading away in a trail. I'll try your suggestions because we have an acre of plants depending on on it!!!!

I'm sorry I didn't get back to this thread. You know how LIFE gets in the way. The ants were better for about 2 - 3 weeks then this morning 2 of my crape myrtles are leafless. I started searching and found the trail and tell-tell signs of cutter ants. I will put detergent out again and see if this helps. I'm beginning to fear I won't be able to ever garden here unless I can rid my property of them. When I say that I mean it honestly. This is by far the worst thing I've ever dealt with in a garden. At this point I don't care if I use poison or not and I hate to state that but my therapy is gardening and to not garden will nearly destroy me.
CatzRul - It sounds exactly like cutter ants to me. I hope you can find something to control them early on. Let me know what you find. Doesn't it make one wonder how many people think they have deer damage but in fact its' cutter ants.
Sunny

Sunny,
I missed where you asked how to apply the detergent. I just sprnkle it around what I wasntto protect, but I sprinkle it on any ants I see. They either die or leave, and I am happy with wither.

kay

WOW!! I thought a small attack by voles was bad, but this would be down right terrible, heart breaking and leave you with no hope. I'd be calling in the pest people at the first sign of these things. I hate to use anything deadly but this would be war!!!! We have fire ants in Mississippi and they are bad when they build in my pots and very painful if I don't see them!!! But atleast they can be controlled with enough persistance. OH Yes, Ya'll might check with your local County Extension Service. They actually give away fire ant bait here several times a year and have loads of info for them and it's all free.

I wish you luck and maybe you can find out how to get rid of these PESTS in caps because I really think they are past the pest point. I'd die too without my garden. The thought of it is hard to consider. I send you my wishes for Blessing for your garden, Mona

Look at these demons in action! We did try Amdro Ant Block a few months ago and that seemed to kick them down. http://w3.marietta.edu/~biol/costa_rica/animals/leafcutter_ants.htm

I have the same problem in AZ that I have been fighting for 10 plus years. Not due how to get rid of cutter ants but we put a little gas and cover and it slow them down. We have pets so poison is out. If any one does come up with a solution send it out. Thanks a lot.