Fire Ants

Tips on using fire ant baits successfully

• Only use baits that are specifically labeled for fire ants.
• Read the label twice, once before you buy and again before you treat.
• Apply fire ant baits by broadcasting them over the entire yard.
• Don’t apply too much. The rate for most baits is only one to two pounds per acre.
• Use a spreader specifically designed for fire ant bait.
• Avoid irrigating for at least two days after applying baits.
• Try to avoid applying baits just before rainfall.
• Treat again if rainfall occurs within 12 hours after a bait application.
• Use fresh bait. Ants don’t like old bait that has gone rancid.
• Be patient. Baits are slow-acting.
• Apply fire ant baits preventively. Don’t wait till you see large mounds.
• Apply baits one to three times per year, depending on location.
• Use the holidays, Easter, Independence Day, and Labor Day as reminders.
• Use individual mound treatments to eliminate mounds the baits miss.

Contact information for Dr. Blake Layton.