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Fire ants are pests that are not only an inconvenience, but can be harmful as well as potentially fatal to both humans and animals. Most people put them at the top of their list of invasive pests. It is estimated that Americans spend $6 billion annually to get rid of them, including the price of insecticides.
There are several ways to eradicate them, using a variety of methods. Prevention and management are also keys to ensuring the minimization of these pests.
Fire Ants Species and Identification
Photo Credit: Rick Hagerty
There are several species of fire ants, but imported black and red fire ants are among the most invasive and harmful. Adult fire ants are distinguishable from other local ants by their copper brown colored head, and their darker abdomen. The worker ants range in color from reddish to blackish, and are anywhere from .08″ to .24″ in size.
A typical fire ant colony consists of the queen, soldier ants, and worker ants. The queen is the largest and is responsible for reproducing. She can produce up to 1,600 eggs per day. The queen’s lifespan ranges from 5 to 7 years. They start out with wings, but rip them off after mating. One colony can have up to 250,000 workers.
Males, also called drones, mate with the queen, and immediately die thereafter.
Soldier ants are generally larger than worker ants, and have more powerful mandibles. Worker ants are responsible for everyday tasks such as protecting the eggs and larvae, finding food, and cleaning the nest.
Behavior and Nesting Location
Fire ants will nest in several areas and feed largely on plants and seeds, although they will often attack small animals, which is usually fatal for the animals. They are known to be more aggressive than other ant species and have pushed other local species away from their natural habitat. Unlike other ant species, they can survive extreme temperature conditions and do not hibernate.
Most nest locations are found in moist soil conditions such as pond shores, river banks, highway shoulders and watered lawns. Their preferable nesting location is one that is not easily visible, such as under concrete objects like timber, bricks, or rocks. Sometimes, they will build mounds in open fields. These, of course, are quite visible, and can be as large as 15″. Large fields can contain as many as 300 mounds per acre. These can damage equipment such as mowers and small tractors.
Colonies can consist of one queen, or several queens. It is not uncommon for one or more queen to die off, although some colonies remain polygamous. Even with only one queen, a colony can grow to more than 250,000.
These pests can also infest buildings, potentially causing irreparable damage and fire hazards by chewing electrical wiring and insulation.
Fire Ant Control & Prevention
As with many insect infestations, the key to eradication is prevention. However, this is extremely difficult and preventing fire ants from invading your property or building can be next to impossible. The next best thing is to identify them as early as possible, and take the necessary steps to get rid of them.
Many people work to control fire ants by treating each mound individually; this can be time consuming and costly, though, if you have a lot of area to cover, and a lot of mounds to treat. On average, each mound can cost $2 to treat with insecticides. There is also a risk of using too much insecticide, which can make its way into nearby rivers and streams, causing environmental damage.
Rather than treating each mound individually, a broadcast method, which treats entire yard areas, are much more effective.
The method of treatment and control that you choose depends on your tolerance level, your environmental impact concern and your financial resources. Some people choose to do nothing about the ants, because they don’t seem to pose any problem or threat. Most people, however, choose to attempt to get rid of them by any means possible.
Some methods include biological control and use of insecticides. Each method is effective, but will depend on specific location and environment concerns involved.
How to Kill Fire Ants
In order to be effective, any eradication method must kill the queen; otherwise, the colony will survive, and will build back up again. Deep-dwelling colonies that have gone undetected can quickly build up after a soaking rain.
Some people say it’s impossible to get rid of fire ants completely; others lament the fact that with ongoing control methods, they can be managed and rendered nonthreatening.
Organic or chemical methods of killing fire ants take time, skill and caution. If you have a large area to manage, it may be best to call a professional. These experts are trained and come prepared for any scenario. Fire ants can emerge from their nests quickly and can overwhelm in a matter of seconds. If you are not prepared, painful stings and bites can occur.
Eliminate Fire Ants in the Yard & Garden
Organic and natural methods include pouring hot water on the mound and surrounding areas; molasses, club soda, and instant grits are home remedies that work to varying degrees, but are not considered to be truly effective methods.
Get Rid of Fire Ants Naturally
If you are concerned with the environmental impact of using chemicals and insecticides, there are natural and organic alternatives to getting rid of fire ants.
As discussed, hot water can be an effective way of getting rid of fire ants. Studies have shown, however, that this only works about 60% of the time.
The area affected must be monitored on a continual basis, to ensure that colonies are not re-forming, and new mounds are not appearing.
Video: Homemade Fire Ant Solution
Management Control Plan
There are several different management control methods, including biological, organic and insecticide.
- Biological Control: University and government researchers have identified natural enemies of the fire ant, including insects from South America called parasitic decapitating flies. These have been very effective in controlling fire ants, but are not available to the general public; however, there are ongoing release programs in select States where infestations are prevalent.
- Organic Control: These are certified organic ingredients and have a less harmful effect on the environment. Active ingredients in these products include d-limonene (a citrus oil extract) and spinosad.
- Home Remedies: One of the most popular home remedy methods of controlling fire ants is to pour very hot water (almost boiling) into the mound and surrounding area. Studies have shown that is effective about 60% of the time, but can also kill plants that surround the area. There is also a risk of burns and injury to the person handling the water.
- Chemical Control: The use of insecticides is strictly regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA.) It’s important to read the label carefully, as some products should not be used near vegetable gardens, and some may not be for use close to buildings, or near livestock/animals.
Two-Step Method
The two-step method of fire ant control is among the most popular and most effective. As the name suggests, there are two steps involved.
- Use a Broadcast Applied Bait to cover your entire yard. When used correctly, the product has a low toxicity level and will not harm animals or plant life. The recommended application rate is generally 1 – 1.5 pounds of bait per acre. The bait should be scattered thoroughly, so as not to be too visible on the ground. The worker ants will pick up the bait, and carry it back to the nest, where the queen will be waiting.
- Individual mound treatment: Once the broadcast treatment has been applied, individual mounds can be treated using insecticides. These are generally done in problem areas, or high traffic areas where children and pets abound. The treatments typically come in granular, dust or liquid form.
The individual treatments provide quick eradication of the insects and are used for areas that are heavily infested. The broadcast bait allows for slower, longer lasting treatment and covers a wider area.
Fire Ant Bites – Treatment
Photo Credit: Andre Chinn
Most humans experience the bite of a fire ant because they’ve inadvertently disturbed a colony/mound. Regardless of the reason, they can emerge from their nest and attack quickly, especially if they are agitated.
Fire ants inject a substance known as an alkaloid venom with their sting. They also have large mandibles used for biting. They attack humans as well as animals of all sizes, from small birds to rabbits to farm cattle. Their bites can be fatal to both humans and animals.
Fire ants bite just to get a grip on their prey, then inject their venom into the wound. For humans, these bites will feel similar to that of a burn, (hence the name fire ant!). Small, red welts will appear on the skin, and clear blisters will form a few hours later. These bites cause itching, swelling and redness and can be extremely uncomfortable.
Bites should be treated as soon as possible, and it’s important to get the fire ants off of you immediately. Once they’ve bitten into the skin or onto clothing, they have a firm grip. You may have to actually pick them off. Trying to slap them off will just irritate them.
The steps to treating a fire ant bite include the following:
- Elevate the affected area as much as possible
- Soak the sting with warm, soapy water for five minutes using a cloth or sponge
- Use a cool compress on the affected area for at least 15 minutes
- Take an antihistamine tablet if needed
- Once the blister appears, do not pop it
Home remedies for fire ant bites include hand sanitizer (this is a popular method with Florida golfers,) ice packs, and a water and baking soda paste.
If the affected area does not seem to improve over a few days, or if pain persists, see a medical professional for further treatment.
While it’s rare for people to become allergic to fire ant stings, it does happen.
Allergic reactions can include the following symptoms:
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Swelling of the throat
- Difficulty breathing
- Hives
If you experience any of these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.
Stings and bites can be fatal if an allergic reaction goes untreated, or in those who are extremely sensitive.
Fire Ants and Pets
Fire ants are attracted to pet food and can quickly overwhelm a food bowl, making it difficult for pets to eat. The ants will typically bite/sting in areas that contain the least amount of fur, such as the eyes, ears, muzzle and abdomen.
Never attempt ant eradication off of a pet with a garden hose, as this can agitate them, causing them to sting repeatedly. Many stings will require the intervention of a veterinarian, as they can cause an animal to be extremely uncomfortable.
Summary
Before devising a plan to eradicate fire ants, it’s important to properly identify them. Some species of ants are actually considered beneficial and will toil the earth just as good, if not better, than an earthworm. They can also eat other insects which are considered to be harmful. If you’re unsure, it’s best to call a professional for positive identification.
Whether you choose a chemical or organic approach to killing fire ants will depend on a number of factors, including budget, size of the area to be treated and extent of the damage that has occurred, or may occur as a result of the ants.
The key to successfully getting rid of fire ants is to identify them as quickly as possible, and take action as soon as possible. Knowing all of your options will help minimize damage and protect both animals and humans on the property.
