Let’s talk fire ants
Fire ants are a constant struggle in the South.
It seems like there is always a new mound popping up when you need them gone the most.
Preventing those big mounds is the best way to keep those pesky fire ants at bay. The best way to do that is by using bait, which can reduce the number of mounds in your yard by 80% or 90%!
To successfully use baits, you want to broadcast them over the yard instead of doing spot treatments, because there are always mounds that you cannot see to treat.
The ants will collect this bait from the yard and take it back to their colony. Easter, Fourth of July and Labor Day are the holidays to help you remember when to bait your yard every year to help keep your yard as fire ant-free as possible.
Be sure to put out your bait when there is no rain in the forecast for several days, so that the ants have time to get the bait before it washes away.
Read the directions on the bait that you buy to see how it needs to be spread and at what rate. Handheld spreaders and fertilizer spreaders distribute at different rates, leading to using too much or too little bait.
If you decide to use bait on specific mounds instead of broadcasting, spread it around the mound, not on top of it. This way the foraging ants will find it and bring it inside for them to eat later.
Baits are good control, but they work slowly so be patient! Depending on the bait, it could take two to six weeks for maximum control. If you cannot wait that long for the bait to take effect, you can use mound treatments. There are two options for mound treatments: liquid or dry.
Liquid drenches are the quickest control, but they are more work to mix and put out. Dry treatments are easy and convenient but may take a few days to work. Regardless of what method you use, do not disturb mounds before treating them! This only makes them move farther underground, making your treatment less likely to reach them.
To recap, keeping fire ants from taking over your yard is possible, but it takes time and preparation. Your best bet is to spread bait in your yard around Easter, Fourth of July and Labor Day. Then, if you have mounds still around, you can spot treat with mound treatments.
Hopefully, this information can help you manage your fire ant problem better.
If you would like more information on this subject or others, you can call our office at 662-647-8746.
