Fire ants are one of the worst pests to have in your yard – perhaps second only to mosquitoes. Fortunately, there’s something you can do about it, and it just so happens that October is one of the best months to spray for fire ants in Texas.
Fire Ants In Texas
You might think fire ants are native with how prevalent they are, but not that long ago, fire ants were not a common sight. They were accidentally brought to the US about a century ago – most likely in crates containing fruit from South America. After 100 years, they are not extremely commonplace. They will reproduce quickly and colonize your yard if left to their own devices. And it’s not just Texas that experiences a problem. Southern states, in general, have fallen victim to these invaders over the years.
Fire Ants vs. Normal Ants
Many people believe fire ants are always red in color, but they can actually be anywhere from red to blackish in color. They are smaller than your run-of-the-mill pavement ants – about 1/16 to 1/4 of an inch in length. Despite their size, they have no problems attacking you if they feel you’ve threatened their colony. It’s their aggressive tendencies that make them so hard to deal with. You might not be going after their colony, but doing something mundane like mowing the lawn or taking care of the yard. That’s why getting a head start on pest control is so important. The sooner you tackle the problem, the better. If you wait to call for help after the mound has already formed, you’d got quite the infestation on your hands.
How To Recognize A Fire Ant Mound
Like other ants, fire ants will create underground tunnels which they can use as highways to transport food while avoiding predators like birds and spiders. When the colony becomes large enough, they may build a mound above the surface. These mounds will look like larger versions of the small ant hills you’d find on the edges of sidewalks and driveways. There is one key difference: fire ant mounds do not have a hole in the center, as you would find with pavement ants. That’s because fire ants use underground entrances and exits. If you see one in the middle of your yard, DO NOT go and investigate. As mentioned previously, fire ants are extremely territorial and will likely attack. Fire ant stings are excruciating, and in some cases, you could even wind up in the hospital.
Why Treating For Fire Ants In Fall Is Ideal
Fall is the ideal time to treat for fire ants because they are still actively foraging. And because it’s not as hot as the summer, ants are more likely to be active during the day. Ideally, you should keep an eye on the weather report and see when it’s going to rain soon. You’ll want to have your pest control technician come out when there is no rain expected for several days following treatment. Otherwise, the substances applied could get washed away. In fall, applying treatment first thing in the morning is ideal, as this is when ants are most likely to be out and about.
How To Get Rid Of Fire Ants
Depending on your unique situation, there are a couple of different ways to eradicate fire ants on your property. If there is a visible mound, we can use a powdered substance called “dust.” This bait is sprinkled over the mound so that ants will come in contact with it. Unbeknownst to them, this substance is poisonous. When they return to their colony, they will bring it with them to the queen. If there is just one mound on your property, this might be the way to go. However, if you have multiple mounds, we will likely recommend an insecticide. This spray is “contact insecticide” and is also a slow-release formula like mound treatments. We might even recommend using both a spray and dust, depending on what we see in your yard. Whichever route we recommend, you can rest easy from now on – we guarantee our applications for a whole year!
Protect Your Yard From Fire Ants
If you’re looking for a pest control company near Plano, look no further. Lawns-4-U has many years of experience dealing with this highly annoying pest. By being proactive about pest control now, we can prevent future infestations down the road. Our treatment is guaranteed to control and prevent fire ants for a full year! To learn more or schedule a treatment, give us a call at 972-859-0658, or you can leave us a message online. Don’t forget to check out our blog page for more articles on maintaining the yard of your dreams!