Boiling water can kill fire ants, but grits cannot.
The red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) came to America from Brazil on cargo boats between 1933 and 1945. The ants became major pests. One popular home remedy is to feed the fire ants instant grits, but this does not work. Does this Spark an idea?
Speculation
Instant grits or corn grits are thought to kill fire ants by interfering with their ability to digest food. Any antibacterial on the grits are thought to kill the ant's digestive bacteria.
Study
In the 2000 study "Laboratory Assay of Effect of Instant Grits and Malt-O-Meal for Imported Fire Ant Control," instant grits were not seen to kill any fire ants. Ants were even reproducing at the end of the 11 day study.
Alternatives
Boiling water can kill fire ants, although not all at once. Some ants will escape. Other methods of killing fire ants include boric acid baits, pyrethrin insecticides and insect growth regulators like fenoxycarb, which kill the all of the larvae and eggs in an ant colony.
Tags: fire ants, kill fire ants, Boiling water, Boiling water kill, grits thought, grits thought kill, kill fire