Question
Hi Charlotte,
Thanks for such a quick reply.  I'll try the essential oil with epson.
Another question:  Would you tell me when you would do the orange/epsom treatment all over the yard here in north Texas (Arlington)?
Thanks, Ruth
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Hi Charlotte,
I previously talked with you back in the spring.  I live here in Arlington, Texas.
I have some essential oils of orange in the standard 15 ml. little bottles(as well as other oils).  I would like to use this orange oil instead of the orange peals.  Could you give me a "recipe" telling me how many drops, or whether the whole bottle for use of this with the epsom salts to use all over my yard and beds?  
Is it too early to apply this since the ants are still sleeping?  Also, should this be applied on a dry day when there won't be any rain for a day or two or does it matter if it gets soaked?
Thanks for your help, Ruth
-----Answer-----
Hi Ruth.
You can use that oil.
Howard Garret says to mix about 1 oz to a gallon of water and treat fire ant hills.
Haven't tried that, but I have ground up orange peels in my Magis Bullet, and added that to Epsom Salts. I used the peels of about 2 large oranges per bag of Epsom Salts. I get bags at Walmart for about 3 dollars, that look about like a half gallon.
Just use your nose.
Put it in a glass jar or jug. If you put it in a plastic drink container, for instance, that oil will seep into the plastic, and it will NOT some out with wahing, for a Looong time.
I have a gallon pickle jar that I mix my orange peel oil and Epsom Salts in.
Drop a few drops. If it is a little bottle that you have to hold upside down until the drops slowly start ( Acacia oils are in that kind of bottle.) put about 4 inches of orange oil, then about 6 or 8 drops, mix that up and repeat.
When you think you have enough oil to smell up all that salts, leave it overnight, shake it again, and throw it down.
Whehn I grind up the orange peels ( I am sure it would do that with the oil), the salts becomes a little oily.
That should keep it from disolving in watering and rain ( if we get any) for a little longer and kep it on for a longer repelling time.
I have so many toads. lizards and grass snakes ( mostly lizards) that I haven't had to treat for fire ants in about 3 years. Those lil critters eat fire ants as well as other kinds of ants.
Charlotte

Answer
Here in North Texas, the fire ants swarm in early spring.
There is usually an announcement on the news about it being time for fire ants to swarm.
IF we have a rainy season in early spring, and they aren't already out, I would do it right after the rain stops, if we have the usual long rains we have when we are lucky.
If you see a mound, treat then.
After they get a whif of the orange oil, they either die out or move. I have dumped a handful of orange peel chips on a mopund, and checked in 4 or 5 hours, and there was no sign of acivity.
I am not sure if it kills them, or just makes them leave the area.
I tried the orange peels, and that was the first year I had seen them in my yard, and they were gone right away.
Whehn they said on the news it was fire ant time, we got thwe oranges, and had our orange festival. LOL
I don't know what temperature it has to get to, fr them to swarm, or if the temp is what determines when they swarm.
You could call the Agricultural Extension Agent's office and I think they could tell you.
You might be able to get their webpage and email them, or even look up the answer on their site.
I don't have the web address for them, but I am sure you could find it if you went to Texas Government offices.

Charlotte