Interesting. The beer has always worked for me. Here in Massachusetts we have had one of the wettest springs ever. Slugs everywhere until the coffee can lids with beer were put out and Voila! Slugs be gone.

Sluggo is a highly successful slug and snail bait, though because it is labeled for organic use you probably won't give it a try. I know that you've been shunning such products in all of the forums, lol. But you really should learn more about these products if you are trying to protect your veggie and butterfly gardens.

There are now ant baits containing the active ingredient Spinosad. As a bait, this product is sprinkled over the ground in the general vicinity of foraging ants. They will very quickly nab the particles and take them to their communal nest. Spinosad is a naturally occurring bacterium (an actinomycete, actually) which, when INGESTED by the insect, will cause some real problems.

Be sure to look for the products that are clearly labeled as an ANT BAIT. Spinosad comes in other formulations, as well, which will not be effective when it comes to controlling ants.

As always, read and follow the directions on any product you purchase, 'organic' or not.

I wouldn't mind using something organic if it's not too expensive and if it works. I haven't had much success with organic stuff in the past so I'm a bit jaded I guess.

Do you know of any names of ant bait products w/ Spinosad that I can look for? My local stores never have anything besides the most common stuff, and not even always that. You should have seen what I was going through just looking for some Captan locally. Home Depot and Lowes included.

Does spinosad also work on sawflies? I've got tons of mallow sawflies that I can't put a dent in with Safers, etc.

The Sluggo works great! I'm interested in knowing the name of the product that has spinosad in it, too.

Spinosad is manufactured by Dow and sold under the name Conserve SC. Based on the following statement "These effects are consistent with the activation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors by a mechanism that is clearly novel and unique among known insecticidal compounds" it sounds like the action is similar to tobacco pesticides that used to be sold but were taken off the market as too toxic.

It also appears to have some systemic effect which may make it unusable in a butterfly garden. ie it may kill the butterflys when they ingest the nectar.

Do a search for spinosad or Conserve SC for more information.

In doing some more checking on spinosad I found that it is being sold as a chewable flea pill for dogs Comfortis. However reading this additional report and noting the mortality and lack of weight gain of the animals used I have deep reservations on how safe this chemical actually is.

Here is a link that might be useful: spinosad safety

maifleur, the products you've mentioned are NOT baits, which I clearly (I hope) specified. Ant BAITS will be carried on a dry, inert granule. These particles are manufactured to be attractive to foraging ants, who will carry them to the nest. Once ingested, the bacterium can infect the nest residents.

Spinosad is not proprietary, and can be found in lots of different products manufactured by many companies. I urge everyone to come label readers! A quick search for BAITS containing spinosad came up with the following: Green Light Ant Bait with Conserve, Safer Brand Fire Ant Bait, Fertilome Come and Get It, PayBack Ant Bait. There are probably more.

As with all products, the safety and efficacy is all about the proper use. Anything, no matter how benign, can be used in an unsafe manner. I urge everyone to read and follow all label directions.

Minna, ant baits will not be effective against sawflies. The key to success with using the Safers's Insecticidal soap is to mix it according to the directions and apply it to the location where the sawflies hang out. If you spray in the evening, it will stay wet for a longer period of time. It's effective only when wet.

Sawflies are also pretty easily sprayed off with a strong spray of water from the hose. They're a favorite treat for a wide variety of hungry helpers.

I have successfully use a product called "Combat outdoor ant killer". However, it is a poisonous substance that requires you to wear gloves when applying the granules and to wash your hands afterward. It came in a dispenser bottle that has a chamber to dispense one ounce of granules in a 20 foot length. It says not to use it around children or friendly animals. The previous owner of my house left it behind when he moved. I sprinkle some around ant trails in a very light dose. If rain or sprinklers don't wash it away or into soil it probably is persistent too.
Nerdy

Yes, I heard Combat gel was good. I think it may be safer because you can put a drop on ant hills and they come and eat it. I'll also look for the BAIT traps with Spinosad.

See what I'm taking about? Just because something says organic doesn't necessarily mean it's safer than non-organic and things are constantly being taken on and off the organic list... But that's for another thread!

If I just spray off the sawflies with water, they'll just keep crawling back, won't they? And how do I spray on the underside of the leaves? With Safer I mean.

ms_minnamouse is absolutely correct in her assessment that simply because something is labeled "organic" or "natural" does not mean it is any safer than a synthetic product, after all Arsenic is a naturally occuring poison. However, research has found that some "natural" products are not only more effective than many of the synthetics but also will do less harm to the environment. Either Sluggo or Escargo, both iron phosphate products, have been found to be more effective at controlling slugs that most any other slug control product, and with less harm to the environment. There are serious reservations about Spinosad yet, even though it is a bacillus.
The larva of sawflies can be controlled with an Insecticidal Soap, simply knocking those buggers of a plant with a water spray will not work, although if you have enough predators (you have not sprayed poisons that will kill them) they could get to those larva that you knocked off the plant before they can crawl back up.

Minna, granulated ant baits with Spinosad will not come in traps. Just so you know.