Fire ants are aggressive pests and will sting, sometimes repeatedly, when you enter their territory. Unfortunately for many homeowners in warm, humid regions, that territory might be your backyard.
According to the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC), these little buggers were only introduced to the United States in the 1920s and 1930s. Now, they are considered an invasive species that plagues areas from Virginia to New Mexico, as well as California and Puerto Rico.
Need to get rid of fire ants? Here's how pest control experts say you should do it.
The fastest way to remove fire ants is to apply liquid mound drench pesticides or use fast-acting granule baits. Non-chemical DIY ways to get rid of them include pouring boiling water or a dish soap solution over the mound. While these techniques can kill the mound and surrounding ants, they may not be enough to eradicate an entire colony.
"If you don’t address your fire ant issue early on, they will quickly form multiple colonies across your property," says Rick Culbreth Jr., a third-generation pest control operator and president of Yates-Astro Termite and Pest Control, a family business in Savannah, Georgia.
