SAN ANGELO, Texas - Fire ants start making themselves known when it warms up in the spring. They usually are not as active when it's extremely dry and hot, but the drought unfortunately hasn't slowed them down as much as we'd like — and I have plenty of stings to prove it.
Red imported fire ants are not native to the area, and the lack of natural predators has allowed them to spread throughout Texas. They have dislodged many other types of ants, including the red harvester ant, which is a staple food of the horned lizard. An unfortunate consequence of the red fire ant's invasion is the decrease in the horned lizard population.
There are many types of ants in West Texas, and the red imported fire ant is the one that is most worth the effort to control. Other ants are not as aggressive and do not cause as many problems, so try to identify any ants in question before spending time and money on treatment.
Red imported fire ants create mounds of light, fluffy soil (especially after a rain) that do not have entrance holes on top. Most other ants use a large central opening, while fire ants tend to use underground tunnels for access. Fire ants are also small, only about 1/8 to 1/4-inch long, and can be found in varying sizes, while many other ant species are uniform in size.
Now is a good time to apply fire ant treatment to help keep populations under control and prevent painful stings. The Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service recommends the "Texas two-step" method of control, which simply means using both baits and mound treatments.
Baits are starchy food sources laced with pesticide, while mound treatments are more concentrated. Baits should be lightly broadcast over the entire affected area. Be sure to follow the label directions, as they need to be applied in the correct amount to be effective. Putting out too much is a waste and will not provide good control. Mound treatments should be applied directly to visible mounds.
There are many options when selecting a fire ant treatment. Products containing spinosad (an organic option), methoprene (trade name Extinguish), abamectin and hydramethylnon (Amdro) are available at most nurseries and garden centers, among others. Unfortunately, home remedies such as club soda, cinnamon and coffee grounds have not been successful in research trials.
Check out the website fireant.tamu.edu for more information on identification and control.
Allison Watkins is Tom Green County Extension horticulturist. Contact her at AEWatkins@ag.tamu.edu.
Need Help? Call us at 1-877-304-7763.
Monday-Friday: 6am-8pm / Saturday: 6am-12pm / Sunday: 6am-1pm