Hints for Homeowners…
Fire Ants: Out of Sight But Still There

Lisa Lennon, Extension Agent, IPM—Fire Ant Project
Travis and Williamson Counties
Texas Agricultural Extension Service

When it comes to fire ants—just because you don’t see them doesn’t mean they’re gone.

These past couple of months have been hot and dry, therefore fewer fire ants to be seen.  However, the fire ants that have burrowed down in hiding will soon begin to appear again.  Therefore, treating for fire ants now is important, especially if you don’t want to see even more next spring.

One of the best ways to manage fire ants is with a neighborhood-wide treatment program, commonly known as a “block party.”

By controlling fire ants throughout the neighborhood, it takes longer for fire ants to re-invade those treated areas, therefore lowering pesticide use and the costs associated with that use.

For a block party, neighbors can band together on a designated day and make an application of fire ant bait, known as ‘broadcasting.’

Broadcasting is the process of applying bait to your entire lawn with a hand-held spreader, as opposed to easter-egg hunting for individual mounds.  Bait insecticides are effective in controlling the pests because they are designed to kill the queen.

When properly applied and used, bait products are safe for the environment, around kids and pets, and target only ants.  Generally, fire ants will pick the bait up (mistaking it for food) in about an hour or two—depending on the time of day when it’s applied.  (Make sure ants are active-usually mid-morning or evenings are best.)

“Out of sight, out of mind” can be a real problem when it comes to fire ants.  Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security.

For free information, contact Lisa Lennon at the Travis or Williamson County Extension Office: (512) 708-4797.

For our other articles posted by VNA on control of fire ants, see:
fireants.html   and   winterfireants.html

For even more information on combating fire ants, see:
http://fireant.tamu.edu

For general insect info, see the Texas A&M Department of Entomology main page at:
http://insects.tamu.edu

Educational programs of the Texas Agricultural Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, or national origin.

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