Fire Ants: Where did they come from and why won’t they leave??

     If you are outside at all, you have had it happen. In a matter of seconds, out of nowhere, you come under attack. It happens fast and it's painful. Those little red ants are all over you. Some time ago I was out measuring beds and looking at plant material on a landscape. I stooped down to look at an irrigation head. I had stepped in a ant mound not realizing it. Within seconds my right leg was covered. It seems like an eternity when you are trying to get them off. For me causes discomfort and some swelling. For others it can be much worse. So what's up with fire ants?

     Did you realize they were not always here? Depending on what sources you are reading, fire ants came to the United States from South America sometime around the 1920's. There was a ship (or ships) that were carrying soil as ballast from that country that was contaminated with the ants. The ships arrived in Mobile Alabama. From that point the ants have migrated into 11 southern states, and are in 71 of the 100 counties in North Carolina. Some sources say they are as far north as Maryland. In North Carolina the 71 counties are considered under quarantine by the USDA and the NCDA&CS. That basically means that certain items, such as nursery stock, sod, used earth moving equipment, straw, etc. are under restrictions for export to other areas. There are certain regulations they have to follow to make sure human beings are not helping with the migration. Interestingly enough, it seems that South America's problem with fire ants is not as severe as ours. Even though they originated there, they have natural predators that we don't have here that keep the population under control. No wonder the ants like it here so much!

     What to do… How do we get rid of the fire ants? Truth be told, we will never completely rid ourselves of fire ants. They are here to stay. The ants are spreading into other areas aided by mild winters and their rapid reproductive rate. What we can do is protect ourselves in areas where they are a nuisance to humans, animals, and plant material. We use 2 methods to treat fire ants. One is a mound treatment with a bait type product. Local stores carry these and they are simple to use. They are a mixture of an insecticide and food that attracts the ants. If you are doing this yourself, make sure you read the directions on the bag. It tells the best time to treat and some simple rules. Baits are not to be placed on the mound, but around it. The ants forage for food so they go to the area around the mound. The second method we use is a broadcast treatment. This method is similar to putting out turf fertilizer and is applied with a spreader. Some of these products not only kill mounds, but are also a preventive. Products such as Top Choice have a life of up to one year if applied correctly and at the right time. While somewhat expensive, this is the best idea for high traffic areas, such as large yards or parks. We can help you with these 2 solutions so please don't hesitate to ask. (One note here, if the ants are heading indoors, or are close to your house, call an exterminator. They are better equipped to handle that situation.)

     So there you have it. A small story about a small but aggressive pest called the fire ant. They aren't going anywhere, but we can defend ourselves.

Thanks,
The AA Tex Lawn Team