Fire ants are bad. They are merciless with their victims. Their bites end up oozing, itchy, and can lead to nasty infections. If you are allergic to them, their poison will send you to the hospital immediately. This is certainly a pest you don’t want in your garden!
These little monsters are all about their Queen. They make burrows and tunnels in the ground for protection. If she dies, the nest dies because that’s her job: to protect her and multiply.
Some interesting facts about fire ants. One is that they have a documented communication system between them. Scientists haven’t quite figured it out yet, but if something disturbs a mound, they get defensive. Their typical attack is to get as many ants on the victim as possible and then they bite all at once. You could be covered in fire ants, unknowingly, and suddenly receive dozens, if not hundreds of bites.
They are also accomplished swimmers. In times of severe flooding, the nest boils to the surface. They have a weird way of sticking together (always protecting that Queen) and will form a float or ant raft. Once the flood waters recede, they set up camp at a new location.
The traditional pesticides used to treat these mounds are baits supposedly brought to the Queen to kill her. But if she’s tried this before, she knows the result is that the fire ant mound moves about 5 feet away. Unsuccessfully.
But you CAN control fire ants and easily destroy the nest (and get the queen) by using safe, all-natural pest control products. When choosing your product, make sure there are clear instructions. And be sure to buy something that is NOT made with toxic chemical pesticides. They just won’t work and if you use them they are releasing poisons into the environment for no benefit.
To control a fire ant nest, follow the instructions below:
Materials needed:
All-natural pest control product that controls fire ants
A long stick to stick into the nest.
• Locate the fire ant nest and create as easy access as possible.
• Liberally spray your favorite all-natural pest control product around the outer perimeter of the nest to create an edge they are reluctant to cross.
• Take your long stick and drive it towards the center of the nest and push it as deep as you can. You can stir it a bit so that it is as deep as possible. Rotate the lever at a 30 degree angle so it is not straight.
• Be very careful to prevent fire ants from leaving the nest that will come at you and climb up the stick.
• Pour 1/2 cup of your favorite all-natural pest control product slowly down the stick directly into the center of the fire ant nest. This will penetrate the Queen.
• Large nests may require more than ½ cup.
• Continue spraying the ants that come out of the center
• Come back the next day to see the progress. Most fire ant nests are controlled with a treatment, but sometimes the nest goes underground instead of down. If a new mound is forming or if moving the stick causes the ants to boil, repeat the above steps daily until you are in control.