Q&A – What’s the best way of get rid of fire ants?
Question:
What's the best way to get rid of fire ants?
Answer:
Retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison says the best way to get rid of fire ants is the Texas two-step method. First broadcast a bait. The foraging workers will collect the bait and take it into the mound where it will be fed to certain instar larvae that can eat solids. The larvae turn this into a liquid which is fed to the queen and she dies. Even without a queen the mound still has ants and appears to be a functioning colony until the workers die of old age (9weeks). A few weeks after spreading the bait apply a contact insecticide to kill the remaining ants. Unfortunately, when new fire ant queens are looking for a site to build a nest, they will be attracted to an area that has no fire ant mounds, like the area you just treated. You will need to retreat when a new mound is spotted.
Related Videos:
Killing Fire Ants
Related Resources:
Fire Ants
Fire Ant Management In The Home Lawn
Control Fire Ants in Your Yard
What's the best way to get rid of fire ants?
Answer:
Retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison says the best way to get rid of fire ants is the Texas two-step method. First broadcast a bait. The foraging workers will collect the bait and take it into the mound where it will be fed to certain instar larvae that can eat solids. The larvae turn this into a liquid which is fed to the queen and she dies. Even without a queen the mound still has ants and appears to be a functioning colony until the workers die of old age (9weeks). A few weeks after spreading the bait apply a contact insecticide to kill the remaining ants. Unfortunately, when new fire ant queens are looking for a site to build a nest, they will be attracted to an area that has no fire ant mounds, like the area you just treated. You will need to retreat when a new mound is spotted.
Related Videos:
Killing Fire Ants
Related Resources:
Fire Ants
Fire Ant Management In The Home Lawn
Control Fire Ants in Your Yard