By: Doug Van Gundy
Fire ants are a growing problem in America, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimating that they cost between $3 billion and $5 billion annually in damages and treatment. They are responsible for significant agricultural losses, and can cause severe damage when swarming circuit breakers and other electrical equipment. Additionally, more than 20 million people suffer from their painful stings each year.
As pest management professionals (PMPs) see a rising demand to control fire ants, here are a few tips to share with your customers about identifying an infestation and dealing with the pests:
Fire ants are typically 1 to 3 mm in length, with reddish head and thorax and a black abdomen. They will rapidly attack in force anything that disturbs their mound.
Mounds can be as tall as 15 in. They will build their mounds in open areas, and also under or adjacent to structures such as rocks and landscape timbers, at the bases of tree trunks, in decaying wood, etc.
Starting with cooler weather, fire ant mounds may be more readily visible due to increased moisture. Cooler temperatures will also bring up mounds, as the ants want to keep their larvae or brood warm.
Early fall treatments are a great idea to keep fire ants from becoming a problem next spring. Treating with baits can prevent smaller unseen colonies from becoming larger problems later on.
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