{"id":146,"date":"2015-08-06T16:17:47","date_gmt":"2015-08-06T20:17:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/cherokee\/?p=146"},"modified":"2018-04-18T10:06:29","modified_gmt":"2018-04-18T14:06:29","slug":"extinguish-your-fire-ant-problem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/cherokee\/2015\/08\/extinguish-your-fire-ant-problem\/","title":{"rendered":"Extinguish your fire ant problem"},"content":{"rendered":"

Spotting an active gardener is easy \u2013 just check for dirt under their fingernails!\u00a0 And if you notice small red sores on the hands above those dirty nails, then you know that person is borderline clinical in their level of devotion to their plants.\u00a0 They are willing to brave the pain and misery of fire ant bites to remove encroaching weeds from their cherished flowers and vegetables.<\/p>\n

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Shelby, the amazing gardening dog, has even been attacked by the ruthless little ants.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Fire ants are the bane of my life!\u00a0 I\u2019ve been bitten so often that a day in the garden without a fire ant encounter is exceptional.\u00a0 They have even injected their nasty venom into my trusty garden companion, our dog Shelby.<\/p>\n

The red imported fire ant was introduced from South America through the port of Mobile in the 1930\u2019s.\u00a0\u00a0 They now infest over 325 million acres from California throughout the southern U.S. and Puerto Rico.\u00a0 Early eradication efforts failed due to the ants\u2019 biology and ability to rapidly reproduce.\u00a0 Imported fire ants disturb native habitats and our home landscape and have created an enormous impact on our economy.\u00a0 Fire ants are estimated to have a $1.2 billion impact on the state of Texas alone!<\/p>\n

The Fall is the best time to control fire ants around our homes, so start your battle plan for next year now.\u00a0 Fire ant colonies have been growing all summer and will have reached their peak size by the end of September.\u00a0 It is best to attack these colonies before cooler weather sends them deep into the ground.<\/p>\n

For Fall treatment, it is best to use a fire ant bait product.\u00a0 Fire ant baits work when worker ants pick up the bait and transport it back to the colony.\u00a0 Because the active ingredient is relatively slow acting, there is time for the material to be fed to the queen.\u00a0 Baits are also effective at controlling mounds that are not large enough to be seen; which are the ones that catch me off guard.<\/p>\n

Here are a few things to remember about using fire ant baits:<\/p>\n

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  • Do not disturb the mounds or apply baits directly to the mounds<\/li>\n
  • Used a broadcast spreader and apply bait over entire yard<\/li>\n
  • Treat yard in the late afternoon when temperatures are between 60 and 90 degrees<\/li>\n
  • Treat when there is no rain expected for 24 hours<\/li>\n
  • Once you open a bag, try to use all the product within a few days. The oil carrier can degrade over time and the ants may not take it if the product sits<\/li>\n
  • Follow the label on the product; it\u2019s the law!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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    There are a number of home remedy treatments for controlling fire ants but it should be noted that they rarely eliminate colonies and some of the remedies are simply old wives tales.\u00a0 Boiling water poured on an active mound can be effective but only if enough water is poured onto the mound to fully kill all ants.\u00a0 This method is time intensive and potentially dangerous to the individual schlepping\u00a0boiling water around their yard.\u00a0 Boiling or hot water can also kill or damage nearby plants, turf, and non-target soil organisms.\u00a0 Grits are often rumored to work because the ants will explode after eating the grits due to the expansion of the dry starches.\u00a0 The truth is only the larval stage ants digest solid foods with workers only feeding on liquids or greasy materials.<\/p>\n

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    Perhaps the only thing these pests are good for is creating interesting artwork. \u00a0Check out the artwork created from pouring molten aluminum down their mounds!<\/p>\n