While having fire ant infestations in your outdoor area is a frustrating and annoying experience, it’s more than just a nuisance. These insects are aggressive and can be extremely dangerous as they sting repeatedly when their territory is disturbed.
If there’s a fire ant infestation in your outdoor area, you’ll need to get rid of it as soon as possible to protect your home and family. The best method to eliminate fire ants is to use the two-step process as it’s the choice of the experts.
In this article, I’ll show you how this two-step process works, along with some other techniques to treat fire ants in your yard.
Eliminating Fire Ants: Two-Step Method
The two-step method is a tried-and-true technique to kill fire ants and it provides long-lasting and thorough fire ant control. It involves the process of baiting that can help you eliminate up to 90 percent of fire ants.
Here’s how this method works.
Step One
The first step is to distribute a fire ant bait that contains an insecticide and something that looks like tasty food to attach fire ants. The worker ants gather around the bait and take it to their nest to share the food with all the colony members, including the queen.
The insecticide, mixed in the bait, kills every fire ant that eats the bait. When the queen of the nest dies, there’ll be no more eggs to hatch new ants, eliminating the entire colony.
However, it’s important to note that most fire ant baits are slow acting and can take several days to generate the best results.
While you can make your own bait, I recommend you use commercially available ready-made baits. Not only will it provide you with better results but it’ll also help you save time and energy.
Once you have the bait, place it around the fire ant mound or on a spot where you often see fire ant activity. Make sure that you place it on a dry spot as fire ants avoid wet areas.
Step Two
Once you have completed step one, the next step is to use liquid mound drenches or granular insecticide. If you’re going with the drenching option, you can use the steps listed below.
- Use the instructions that came with the product you’re using to create the insecticide solution.
- Grab a broom handle, dowel, or a similar tool and poke a hole right in the center of the fire ant nest. Keep in mind that fire ant mounds don’t have a hole in them. It’s one of the easiest ways to identify fire ants.
- Pour the insecticide into the hole. It’ll kill the remaining ants inside the nest.
- Add the same insecticide to a spray bottle and spray it around the mound in a circle. It’ll prevent fire ants from escaping the nest.
If you’re planning to use a granular mound drench, you can follow the following steps.
- Poke a hole right in the center of the fire ant mound using the same technique mentioned above and sprinkle granules in and on top of the mound.
- You’ll also need to sprinkle the granular insecticide around the fire ant mound. It must be at least three feet out in all directions to prevent ants from escaping.
- After that, pour soapy water into the hole and around the mound to make it wet. It’ll soak fire ants and prevent them from escaping.
Regardless of the type of product you use, make sure that you read the product label and follow the instructions.
Wear long boots before using this two-step method and keep your kids and pets away from the yard, at least for 24 hours. It’s one of the best ways to treat fire ant colonies.
Eliminating Fire Ants: Natural Method
There are several natural ways to get rid of fire ants in the yard. These methods will come in handy if you don’t have access to commercially available baits and insecticides.
Homemade: Two-Step Method
If you can’t purchase ready-made fire ant bait from the market, you can make it at home. You’ll need to mix one tablespoon of borax or boric acid with about 20 teaspoons of mint apple jelly.
According to the US Department of Agriculture, homemade bait made with boric acid can kill up to 90 percent of fire ants in a colony. You can use this bait the same way as discussed above. If you don’t have borax or boric acid, you can use diatomaceous earth for the same purpose.
Instead of using an insecticide, such as ortho fire ant killer, to drench the mound, you can simply use boiling water. You can also add dishwashing liquid or orange oil to the boiling water to make it more effective.
For more ideas see What Kills Fire Ants: 6 Home Remedies.
Ground Cayenne Pepper
It’s also possible to pair your homemade bait with ground cayenne pepper liquid. First, you’ll need to add three to four tablespoons of ground cayenne pepper to two to three gallons of water.
Next, open the windows and doors and turn on the exhaust fan of your kitchen and boil the mixture. You can wear safety goggles and gloves to protect your eyes and skin from the pepper.
After that, wear long boots, poke a hole in the center of the fire ant mound, and pour the liquid into it. Make sure that you pour the solution around the mound as well at least three feet out in all directions.
If you don’t have ground pepper, you can slice five to six fresh cayenne peppers and add them to water before the boiling process. It’ll also generate the same results.
Final Words
Having fire ants in your yard can be a harmful nuisance, especially if you have kids and pets who like to play in your outdoor space. If you notice fire ant activity on your lawn, then getting rid of them should be your priority to ensure your family’s security.
I hope this guide has helped you understand how to get rid of fire ants in your yard and make it a safe place to enjoy quality time with your family.
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