the leaf cutters blues

Hey you guys,
Not only am i new to this website. Im also new to Costa Rica. I've been living on this farm which is a friend of mines while she is in the States visiting her family. And everything has been going well... other.. then the leafcutters. YesYes, they are amazing creatures and the nests they build are to match the great wall of china. But that means that the great wall of china is going right through my Avocado's, citrus & Kale, and everything else within about one km radius. Ive found their nest but now i just dont know what to do with it.

Does anyone out there have any ideas? Hot water seems to do very little and i've heard gasoline works but im not really into that..
Any Ideas?

Yours in need,

Dakota

Traditional methods (I am forgetting some as I am a bit spread thin) of the tropics:


Fire...many forms and methods...

Encapsulate in clay...then again fire...

Diatomaceous earth dusting...expensive and not always effectively fast enough to stop swarming...

Traditional turpentine in a spray bottle (or in a bucket with a whiskey brush) ...and you guessed it...the stranglers are burned....


None of the above is fun or pretty...Leaf Cutters...outside insect zoos, and "pretty magazine articles" are a serious challenge. Check with locals (of course no pesticide methods) and see what they may have to offer. Please let us know how it progresses for you.

Oh...by the way...you will be stung...often!...in dealing with this lot...they are ferocious! Make sure you are not anaphylactic to hymenoptera defenses, and/or have an epi pen close by and help.

Good Luck!

j