Q: How do I best control fire ants?

A: Fire ants are one of Florida’s most aggressive landscape pests. Gardeners experience these biting and stinging insects almost daily. The easiest control method is to use baits. There are a few important things to know about the baits in order for them to work well. The baits must be fresh or the ants will not touch them. Do not sprinkle them directly into the hole but instead place the bait away from the mound as the ants need to forage for them. If the bait becomes wet it is no longer useful. Apply during the warm seasons when ants are foraging (seeking food). During the extreme heat of the summer apply the baits just before dusk as the ant will seek food then to avoid the high heat. Please, please, please follow the directions on the label. These labels have extensive research behind them and if you follow the directions the mound will eventually die – usually within weeks of the first application. Other methods of control are included and discussed in the publication attached. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/LH059

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Posted: June 23, 2017


Category: Home Landscapes, Pests & Disease
Tags: Fire Ants


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