Ant Control

September and October are the ideal time to apply fire ant bait to your lawn and with the recent rains, mounds are more visible.  During fall months, ants are still foraging, weather may be milder and the slow-acting bait can take effect over the winter while you are indoors.

Since ants do travel from yard to yard, it would be smart to team up with your neighbors to implement a fire ant control program at the same time.  The two-step method gives excellent control, especially in larger lawns and when applied to an entire neighborhood.

The first step is to broadcast ant bait over the entire lawn.  Foraging ants will pick up the bait and carry the particles to all colonies in the yard.  This helps control visible as well as hidden fire ant nests. Baits do not kill fire ants overnight, so be patient.  Products containing indoxacarb, hydramethylnon, and spinosod work the fastest, usually within 2 to 4 weeks.

One second step is to directly treat any ant colony that needs immediate control.  Step 2 treatment options include:  granular products, liquid concentrates, dusts, baits, and naturally derived insecticides. Closely follow label directions.

To get the most from baits, adhere to the following suggestions:  Use fresh baits from an unopened container.  Once the container is opened, baits should be used within a month or two.  Don’t water the lawn after applying baits and don’t apply baits when rain is expected within 8 hours. During hot weather, apply baits only in the evening.

By joining with neighbors, you can reduce costs and improve control.  It takes longer for fire ants to re-infest when larger areas are treated with the two-step method.  Hiring a professional pest control company to treat the neighborhood can ensure the treatments are applied properly and on time.

For more information on fire ants go to http://fireants.tamu.edu.

Winter Fire Ant Control

           Winter in Texas means cooler temperatures and less time out of doors. This does not always mean fewer insects however. Fire ants are generally less active during the winter months, but with our urban environments providing warmer pockets of habitat, these pesky insects continue to mound up in very annoying locations.

            The fire ants’ food needs change through the year. In temperatures below 75 degrees F the queen slows down her egg production thus the nutritional needs of the colony are changed. In colder weather conditions the ants do not seek out the high protein oily foods as they don in warm weather. Because of this change in food choice the ants will not feed on the typical fire ant bait formulated products (Amdro, Spectracide,  & Logic) which significantly reduces the effectiveness of these products. Neither broadcasting bait nor individually treating one mound at a time with bait, will produce satisfactory results in cold weather.

          Individual mound treatments are more effective fire ant control methods under these conditions. There are over 100 different products labeled for individual mound treatments of fire ants. Products for individual mound treatments vary in their formulations and active ingredients.

Success with Individual Mound Treatments for Fire Ant Control

·         Most dry formulations should be followed by 1-2 gallons of water, as directed.

·         Do not disturb the mound unnecessarily.

·         Do not create runoff when watering in the product

·         Mix liquid products according to their label instructions.

·         Apply products on warm, sunny afternoons. The ants will be closer to the surface and you will achieve better control.

·         When purchasing materials, note warnings about non-target organisms and apply as directed on the label.

·         Never dispose of unused chemicals down the drain as this introduces pollutants which the treatments plants are not equipped to remove and this harms the environment.

            Effective cool season fire ant treatments focus on individual mound treatments using the properly labeled materials. Bait formulated products are not effective in these temperatures because the ants will not feed on the baits. We will not be able to completely eradicate fire ants. However, with persistent treatment and the cooperation of neighbors we can greatly reduce the impact fire ants have on our daily lives.