how to get rid of necrofire

Download Article

Spotting fire ants or their mounds can be worrying, but there are ways to rid your lawn of the ants and to keep your family safe! Fire ant infestations can be treated by broadcasting fire ant bait, using mound treatment, applying lawn treatment, or hiring a professional exterminator. Recognising fire ants is also an important part of preventing stings and infestations from building up.

1
Broadcast fire ant bait while the ants are foraging. Wait until the evening or night during the summer months, as this is when the fire ants will normally be foraging. Place a small amount of bait next to each mound that you can find.^[1] ^[2]
- You can buy fire ant bait from gardening stores.
- The fire ants will take the bait within 30 minutes.
- Fire ant bait is designed to act slowly, so that the queen will also be targeted.
- The instructions that come with the fire ant bait will specify the amount to use and the best placement.
- Don't waste time spraying ant trails. Only about 15% of the colony forages and will quickly be replaced if you focus on just the foragers.^[3]
2
Use a mound treatment 7-10 days after using fire ant bait. Sprinkle the mound treatment in a full circle around the fire ant mounds. Make sure to follow all of the safety instructions listed on the package.^[4]
- Mound treatments contain acephate, which is a slow-acting poison that will eventually kill the fire ants. The fire ants will eat the poison and share it with the queen, which works to slowly wipe out the whole colony.
- Mound treatments won't work once they get wet, so try to pick a sunny day.
- Mound treatments will only work on the mound that it encircles. You will have to repeat the treatment around each individual mound.
- You can get fire ant mound treatments from gardening centers.
Advertisement
3
Apply a season-long lawn treatment for longer-term pest control. Use a push spreader to apply granules of fire-ant killer over your whole lawn. Cover all areas that are possible.^[5]
- This solution is best if you have to deal with multiple mounds that are spread across a larger area.
- A lawn treatment will usually rid your lawn of fire ants for a full season.You can buy these from gardening stores.
- It is necessary to use a push spreader to apply the lawn treatment, as applying it by hand is very difficult. If you don't have one, many rental yards and plant nurseries loan them out.^[6]
- Some lawn treatments are safe for native ant species.^[7]
4

Hire a professional exterminator if you have a long-term problem with fire ants. Contact a local exterminator company that can work specifically with fire ants.^[8] Professionals have access to treatments that aren't available to the general public, and these may be more effective against stubborn fire ant infestations.^[9]

Advertisement

1
Distinguish fire ants from other ant species. Fire ants are red or brown, and have variation in length (most other ant species are all the same size). Fire ants range from ⅛ to ¼ in (3.18-6.35 mm) long.^[10]
- In the US, fire ants are found in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
2
Look for mounds of fluffy, disturbed soil on your lawn. Mounds on garden lawns are usually only a few inches tall, however in remote locations they can reach up to 18 in (45.72 cm) in height. There will not be an opening on the surface of the mound.^[11]
- Mounds most commonly form 2-3 days after heavy rain.
- Be very careful to not disturb the mound as you are searching, otherwise the fire ants will swarm and travel up a vertical surface, such as a leg, to sting.
3
Treat fire ant stings straight away. Firmly brush the fire ants off you with your hand or a cloth. If your only symptoms of fire ant stings are pustules and pain, use an over-the-counter medication to prevent infection. However if fire ant stings cause you severe swelling, shortness of breath, or chest pain, seek emergency medical attention immediately.^[12]
- Fire ants use their jaws to firmly latch onto skin and cannot be removed by running water over them.
4
Prevent future fire ant stings. If you suspect that you have a fire ant infestation, wear boots and tuck your pants into your socks. Look over the whole ground as you are walking, and educate children about the dangers of fire ants.^[13]
- Make sure that you also watch for foraging ants, as well as the fire ant mounds.
- Warn any visitors to your property about the fire ants so that they can take preventative measures too.
Advertisement

Add New Question

Question

What are the affects off a bite?

Some side effects include swelling, itching, and burning that could last for a week.
Question

What do I do if the ant colony nest is inside and not outside?

Locate the entry of the ants and spray the nest with pesticide labeled "For indoor use." Do not use outdoor baits because this will only attract more ants. Make sure that the structures in your house are in good condition. Make sure to also clean up food or anything else that could potentially attract insects.
Question

Will the ants relocate after the nest is treated?

Kaitlyn Wislang

Community Answer

When a mound is treated the fire ants and queen will most likely die, and they cannot relocate.
Question

How can I eradicate an ant colony so that it can't spread into my house?

Kaitlyn Wislang

Community Answer

Use fire ant bait and then mound treatments for each individual mound. You can also apply a lawn treatment if necessary.
Question

Will red ants damage my plants?

Kaitlyn Wislang

Community Answer

Yes, fire ants can eat plants and the mounds that they create can also damage plants.
Question

Are fire ants poisonous?

Kaitlyn Wislang

Community Answer

When fire ants sting they inject a venom into the skin. This can be dangerous.
Question

Do fire ants have a natural enemy? If so, what is it?

Yes! Chickens! I had several chickens and they would wonder to our neighbor's yard to feast at the buffet of ants.
Question

Can this be explained in greater detail?

Use the drench method of a liquid insecticide poured into the mound; make sure the whole mound is treated. Pour enough of the liquid insecticide into the mound to kill the queens.
Question

What can I use to treat a fire ant infestation?

Kaitlyn Wislang

Community Answer

You can use fire ant bait, mound treatments, or a lawn treatment. You can also hire a professional exterminator for help.
Question

Can you use Roach bug spray to kill fire ants?

Kaitlyn Wislang

Community Answer

A bug spray may kill individual fire ants, however it's best to target the whole mound with a different solution so that you can also get rid of all of the ants that you cannot see.

See more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Keep pets well away from fire ant mounds.
Read the instructions and safety warnings of all treatments before you use them. Ensure that they are safe for children or pets if necessary.

About This Article

Article SummaryX

If you have a fire ant invasion during the summer, place fire ant bait next to each mound in the evening to lure in the worker ants and starve the queen. After 7-10 days of baiting the ants, sprinkle mound treatment around each nest. Then, use a push spreader to apply anti-fire ant lawn treatment throughout your yard to prevent further infestations. If you get stung by an ant, apply over-the-counter antibacterial cream, and seek immediate medical attention if you begin to have an allergic reaction. For tips on spotting fire ants in your yard, scroll down!

Did this summary help you?

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 702,573 times.