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How to Kill a Nest of Fire Ants
How to Kill a Nest of Fire Ants. Fire ants are aggressive and produce painful stings, sometimes in groups of dozens or even hundreds of ants. Fire ants react quickly to disturbances to their colony, swarming the "attacker" and delivering stinging bites. There are several species of fire ants native to the United States, but the imported red fire...
Fire ants are aggressive and produce painful stings, sometimes in groups of dozens or even hundreds of ants. Fire ants react quickly to disturbances to their colony, swarming the "attacker" and delivering stinging bites. There are several species of fire ants native to the United States, but the imported red fire ant has colonized much of the southern region of the country. A number of granular baits and liquid insecticides available in retail stores can quickly destroy a fire ant nest, if used properly.
Things You'll Need
Liquid insecticide
Granular bait
Watering can
Hand spreader
Mix the insecticide with water in a watering can, according to the insecticide's instructions.
Drench all fire ant mounds with the insecticide in the watering can. Start by applying about a quarter of the total volume of the mixture to a 10-to-12-inch band around the outside of the mound. This will prevent the queen from escaping underground.
Apply granular bait using a hand spreader uniformly over your yard. This will prevent fire ant colonies from reemerging after you've destroyed the largest nests.
Tips & Warnings
Some baits are more effective than others. Baits with slow-acting insecticides usually work within a few weeks, while baits with growth inhibitors that stifle the development of eggs and larvae could take months. For maximum control, consider using a bait that contains both insecticides and growth-regulating ingredients.
Be careful not to disturb the mounds before you apply the insecticide. If you do, the worker ants might move the queen to another location, potentially creating additional fire ant colonies.
Ants exposed to a drench of liquid insecticide die in less than 24 hours.
Chemicals in insecticides can be dangerous and need to be applied and stored according to packaging instructions. Keep children and pets away from the area where you've applied the pesticide. Make sure you're in a well-ventilated area when mixing chemicals.
