Q&A - Was it a cold enough winter to kill fire ants?
Question:
Was it cold enough this winter to kill fire ants?
Answer:
In western Tennessee the 2015-2016 winter was mild so the fire ant line was not pushed farther south this year. In order for the winter to kill a fire ant mount the ground needs to freeze to a depth of 12 inches. Even if this happens, the mating queens in the spring can still fly or be blown back in to areas where the fire ant mounds were killed over the winter. The ants will eventually move back to the areas where the ground usually does not freeze to that depth.
Related Resources:
Imported Fire Ants
Fire Ant Management — Treatment Methods
Management Imported Fire Ants in Urban Areas
Was it cold enough this winter to kill fire ants?
Answer:
In western Tennessee the 2015-2016 winter was mild so the fire ant line was not pushed farther south this year. In order for the winter to kill a fire ant mount the ground needs to freeze to a depth of 12 inches. Even if this happens, the mating queens in the spring can still fly or be blown back in to areas where the fire ant mounds were killed over the winter. The ants will eventually move back to the areas where the ground usually does not freeze to that depth.
Related Resources:
Imported Fire Ants
Fire Ant Management — Treatment Methods
Management Imported Fire Ants in Urban Areas