- You're more likely to notice a fire ant colony before you see any ants. Fire ants form above-ground mounds that look like piles of loose dirt. That's helpful so you'll know how to avoid standing or walking through a colony. The ants themselves are small, about 1/8 to 1/4 inch long, and are reddish brown or black. Unlike other ant mounds that have an obvious opening at the top, fire ant mounds have no such opening. The ants enter and exit through a network of underground tunnels to the surface.
- Fire ants are quick to react if their colony is disturbed. Worker ants will climb up any vertical intrusion, whether it's a person, pet, livestock animal, stick or other inanimate object that is placed in a colony. Fire ants attacking an intruder are able to synchronize their bites, so you may feel dozens of simultaneous attacks before you even know that you have any ants on you. Itchy pustules can form at the bite marks and people who are allergic may have much more severe reactions, including rashes, swelling and even paralysis.
- Property owners and scientists alike have experimented with many ways to eliminate fire ant colonies and have achieved mixed results. Among the most effective means of ridding your property of fire ants is the application of a broadcast bait insecticide, such as Amdro or PT370 Ascend. The insecticide is usually dissolved in soybean oil and that solution is then absorbed into corn grits, which can be carried by worker ants into the colonies. The slow-acting toxic substance may kill the queen or at least render her unable to produce more eggs. In either case, the fire ant colony eventually will perish. Other insecticides made specifically for use on fire ants can be applied in liquid form to soak a colony in the toxic solution or with a fine dust or powder that settles into the colony from the surface.
- Boiling hot water, poured slowly over a fire ant mound is effective between 20 and 60 percent of the time, according to the University of Florida Extension Office. Scientists at Florida recommend using about 3 gallons of boiling water applied on a cool morning. If you wait until the heat of the day, the queen and other ants may be too far underground to be affected by the water. Other possible solutions include organic, plant-based insecticides, and simply digging up the colony and hauling away the infested soil. Florida entomologists suggest coating your shovel blade and bucket interior with talcum powder to discourage the ants from ascending the shovel handle and the inside wall of the bucket.
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