General Info
- Fire ants are usually 1/8 – 1/4 inch long and reddish-brown or black in color
- Fire ants are limited to the Southern tier of states including the Southwest, but they are expanding
Where They Nest
- Fire ants generally build colonies outdoors in dome-shaped mounds that are often 1-2 inches in diameter
- They will often kill the grass around their mounds
- Not all outdoor mounds are visible – some are built under rocks or wood laying on the ground
- When the soil is moist and cool, outdoor colonies are located within a couple of feet of the soil surface – during dry periods colonies may be down 5 or even 10 feet
- After a heavy rain, many people observe new colonies – these could be new but often they are just hidden colonies that are being re-opened after wet soil clogs the ant tunnels
What They Want From You
When foraging indoors, fire ants are looking for:
- Food and moisture (found in the sink, shower, leaky pipes, spills, etc.)
- They are especially likely to look for water when outside temperatures are hot and the weather is dry
Why They’re A Problem
- The presence of carpenter ants can be a sign of water or moisture problems in your roof, gutters, porch, deck, floors, or walls
- Large colonies that are left untreated can be as destructive to homes as termites
Tips & Tricks
- Search for leaks in and around areas where you see these ants. These leaks/moist areas will need to be repaired/corrected
- Remove limbs/shrubs that touch the house, particularly the roof – ants use these contact points to gain access
- Remove stumps and dying trees within 50 feet of the house/garage – these are perfect spots for new colonies to start
- Store firewood off the bare ground and away from the house
- Consider using inorganic mulches (stone, gravels) in areas where you have had problems with ants, or where ground moisture is a re-occurring problem
- Inspect older trees carefully for signs of outdoor colonies
Why They’re A Problem
- Fire Ants can bite you and your pets, but they also have a stinger on their abdomen that they use to inject venom into anything that disturbs their colony
- Their stings can be quite painful and multiple stings may require medical attention
- Occasionally, a severe and possibly fatal allergic reaction can occur in some individuals
- Fire ants are a persistent problem in the south because they routinely move their colonies into new locations with ample food and moisture
Tips & Tricks
- Fire ants build and follow trails – looks for these trails around foundations, baseboards, and other moist areas
- Remove debris (wood, rocks, stones) close to the foundation of your home where fire ants may build an invisible colony
- Caulk any points where ants enter into wall voids, cracks, and crevices including entry points from the outside
Avoid common mistakes
- Consider hiring a professional yard maintenance company to treat fire ants if there are too many mounds to treat yourself, or if there is a medical reason to avoid stings
- If you decide to treat your yard yourself, only use EPA-registered products labeled for use on fire ants and read and follow the instructions
- Universities commonly recommend using a combination of residual sprays, mound treatments, and baits