I. General Facts about Fire Ants

Fire ants are so called because of the effects of the poison in their stinger, which is often described as an intense burn. Instead of biting and injecting or spraying acids, fire ants have a stinger on their abdomen. They bite with their jaws to get a grip and then plunge that stinger in for the kill.

Fire ants are bilaterally symmetrical. They have hardened exoskeletons, a tough integument for support and protection. They breathe through their tracheae, like other terrestrial insects.

Their bodies, like those of their relatives (the bees and wasps), are divided into three major parts: head, mesosoma, and metasoma. They have three pairs of legs and a pair of elbowed antennae. A distinguishing characteristic of the Family Formicidae (the ants) is the presence of a pedicel or hump between the thorax and the gaster or abdomen of the insect. The Formicidae also have geniculate or elbowed antennae.

II. Fire Ants as Pests

Fire ants were originally introduced to the U.S. in Alabama; since then, they have steadily moved north, west, east, and south. Today, they are found in most of the south-eastern states, including Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, and Virginia.

Fire ants often travel from one area to another in turf, root balls of nursery plants, and other agricultural products. They are considered pests, not only because of the physical pain they can inflict on humans with their bite, but also because their mound-building activity can damage plant roots and lead to loss of crops in the areas they invade.

Also, fire ants are efficient competitors of other ants and have been successful in enlarging their range, notably in the United States, where they have gradually spread north and west despite intense efforts to stop their spread.

III. Basic Fire Ant Control

* Getting Rid of Fire Ants Outdoors: The first step to getting rid of fire ants is to engage in what is called broadcast baiting with fire ant bait containing Hydramethylnon or any other fire ant killer. Using a handheld scoop, one can treat a particular area where fire ant mounds have been sighted by spreading the granules on the ground.

This should be done in the late afternoon to early evening, and once or twice seasonally. If you broadcast bait during the fall, chances are your baiting will reduce the populations in the spring. MaxForce makes a good fire ant bait for outdoor use. Caution: don’t do this before it rains.

* Drenching Fire Ants: The second step to getting rid of fire ants is to engage in what is called drenching some three to six weeks after broadcast baiting. Drenching is basically the treatment of individual mounds, once it is confirmed that ant activity has been reduced.

This can be done any number of ways. You can boil water and pour it on the mounds. You can get a liquid drenching solution made specifically for fire ants, or you can apply a dust product containing Acephate, a chemical found in products like Orthene or Precise. Dust insecticides are recommended for individual fire ant mound treatment.

* Getting Rid of Fire Ants Indoors: To get rid of fire ants indoors, simple fire ant bait like MaxForce can be used. Most manufacturers make a fire ant bait specifically for indoor use, but some broadcast baits have instructions for indoor use as well.

Of course, keeping this away from children, pets, and food is always a challenge, so, something like MaxForce Ant Bait Gel should be used. Whatever indoor bait you use, just check the label to make sure it’s guaranteed to work on fire ants.

* The Exterminator: If you can’t get rid of fire ants yourself, you may want to try calling in a professional. You can contact members of the Texas Imported Fire Ant Research and Management Project at Texas A&M University, but unless you live in Texas, they may not be of very much help.

Contacting your local government officials can be another alternative. They will probably know whom to put you in touch with, what pest control service is reputable, or who specializes in fire ant management.

* Other Fire Ant Control Tips: A number of things can be done to prevent fire ants from coming indoors. First, put all food items in their proper containers, especially sweets. Clean the house regularly using bleach to wipe up residual foods left on the floor.

Vacuuming on a regular basis is also recommended. Having your doors and windows checked and sealed properly, as well as your door and window screens, is always a good idea. Weather-stripping can be a quick fix, while caulking cracks and holes in your foundation or on the outside of your house can’t hurt either.

IV. Natural and Organic Fire Ant Control

Green Light Natural Fire Ant Killer with Conserve: This is a product on the market that claims to kill fire ants with natural and organic compounds. This particular product is a granular broadcast bait system. To complete the two-step process naturally, and organically, you may also want to try one of the other products below.

Orange Guard Organic Fire Ant Killer: Orange Guard is a solution that can be mixed with water to help treat individual fire ant mounds. This particular product is specifically designed for what is called drenching, a fire ant control strategy whereby hot water mixed with fire ant poison is poured over individual fire ant mounds.

Payback Fire Ant Killer: This is another organic fire ant poison like Green-Light and Orange Guard, and it contains the same active ingredient: Spinosad. Spinosad is a product of Dow, and is created by the fermentation of a naturally occurring organism – though they won’t say what this organism is.

Diatomaceous Earth (DE): This is used to keep most other ants out of gardens and homes, has been proven to kill fire ants as well. Diatomaceous earth is usually most effective as a means of keeping fire ants out of your home by lining the ground outside of your home with Diatomaceous earth. If you’re having problems with fire ants in your garden, surrounding your garden with DE can produce some amazing results as a natural fire ant killer.

V. Fire Ant Stings

Fire ants don’t bite, they sting. Treat a fire ant sting the same was you treat any other sting: swipe the fire ants away from the skin and do not crush them; then, get away from the ants or go indoors. Wash the bite or bites with warm water and soap, and then apply a cold compress.

You must seek medical attention immediately if you feel any of these symptoms: dizziness, nausea, sweating, low blood pressure, and shortness of breath.

Swelling of the tongue and throat can be the beginnings of a severe allergic reaction called anaphylactic shock. Call the paramedics, or have someone drive you to the emergency room, if you start to notice your throat or mouth swell.

Fire ants often kill smaller animals such as birds. They sometimes kill newborn calves if the calves do not get on their feet quickly enough. The sting of the fire ant has venom composed of a necrotizing alkaloid that causes both pain and the formation of white pustules that appear one day after the sting.

Although it is highly unlikely that a human can be overwhelmed and killed on the spot by a swarm of fire ants, the proteins found in the fire ant’s poison can eventually cause death by severe allergic reaction.

VI. Killing Fire Ants

It is not possible to get rid of fire ants entirely, but it is possible to control their populations. A number of major insecticide manufacturers are in fact producing more and more fire ant killer products. MaxForce, Amdro, Precise, Raid Fire Ant Killer, Ascend, Logic, and Siege are just a few of the brands that make ant killer specifically for fire ants.

Of course, the majority of these fire ant killers use the same active ingredient to do your dirty work: Hydramethylnon. Chemicals such as indoxacarb, abamectin, and fipronil are also common in both consumer and professional grade fire ant killers. It appears that products containing Hydramethylnon are the fastest acting and most recommended products on the market. It has been suggested by the TIFARMP that purchasing fire ant killer in bulk from agricultural and business vendors will save you money in the long run, especially if you’re using the two-step method of fire ant control.