Ridding yard of fire ants a spring ritual
Q: Each spring and summer I have to deal with thousands of tiny red fire ants swarming around my yard and even coming up out of cracks in the driveway. A neighbor recommended that I find the main nest, pour gasoline on it and set it on fire, and that this is the only way to kill them. Is he right, or is there another way to get rid of these pests? I would really like to have my yard back. — Tammy C., Lake City, Fla.
A: Anyone who has ever inadvertently stood on or near a fire ant nest knows how painful those tiny bites can be! Fighting fire with fire has been a popular solution to the Southeast’s fire ant invasion for quite a few decades now. But it’s dangerous and not something I would recommend. Once the nest has been eliminated, the fire ant population may be reduced for a short period, but these small pests — first reaching the southern U.S. sometime in the 1920s — will be back.
However, new products are on the market now that can have a longer-term impact on the fire ants currently residing in your yard. Visit the pest-control section of your home-improvement store and ask for granule-type ant baits specifically formulated for fire ants. These baits don’t kill instantly. Instead, worker ants pick up the granules and carry them back to the main nest, where the queen resides. The chemicals in the bait are metabolic inhibitors — meaning the ants that consume it will no longer thrive on other foods and eventually die.
A couple of important notes on chemical baits: These do have some environmental impact, so use only the amount recommended on the package, and avoid using the bait during periods of heavy rain — since it will wash away from the intended target and into lakes or streams. Also, for the most effective treatment, coordinate the bait application with surrounding neighbors so that several yards are treated at once, further reducing the risk of re-infestation.
HOME TIP: Fire ants grab a person’s skin between their mandibles to anchor themselves prior to stinging. At the first prickly sensation of an ant on one’s leg, quickly sweep the area with an open hand to remove the ant and avoid the painful sting, then look around and move away from visible anthills.