Best Management Practices (BMP) for Controlling Fire Ants in San Angelo, TX
1. Understand the Problem
- Fire Ants build mounds in lawns and open areas.
- They’re aggressive and can sting if disturbed.
- One colony can host up to 200,000 ants and several queens.
2. Inspection and Monitoring
- Regularly inspect your yard for round, fluffy soil mounds, especially after rain.
- Mark active mounds to plan treatments.
3. Two-Step Control Program
A combination of broadcast bait and individual mound treatments gives the best results.
Step 1: Broadcast Bait Over the Yard
- When to Apply: Late afternoon when ants are foraging (temperatures between 65–80°F).
- How to Apply: Use a handheld or Container to apply granular bait evenly over your lawn. Do not water or mow right after application as it may reduce bait effectiveness.
Products & Modes of Action:
- Hydramethylnon (Extinguish Plus, MaxForce Complete)
- Mode: Ants eat bait, carry to colony; kills queen and workers via stomach poison; colony collapse in days to weeks.
- Abamectin B1 (Abathor)
- Mode: Interferes with nerve signals by messing up their "on/off switches", which paralyzes and eventually kills ants. Because it is slow-acting, poisoned ants can return to the colony and share the bait, helping eliminate the entire colony over 2 - 8 weeks.
- Bifenthrin/Zeta-Cypermethrin (Talstar Xtra)
- Mode: Disrupt the normal function of nerve cells in insects by keeping their sodium channels open. This causes the ants’ nerves and muscles to be overstimulated, leading to paralysis and death within minutes to hours after contact or ingestion.
Step 2: Individual Mound Treatment
- When to Apply: For large, visible mounds or where ants persist after baiting.
- How to Apply: Sprinkle recommended amount around, or directly on top of, the mound, usually 4 - 6 tablespoons per mound, following the product label.
Products & Modes of Action:
- Acephate (Surrender Fire Ant Killer)
- Mode: Blocks enzyme in nerves, overstimulates and kills ants very quickly (1–2 days); works by contact or when ants eat it.
- Indoxacarb (Surrender Fire Ant Bait)
- Mode: After ingestion, the ant's internal enzymes convert indoxacarb into a more toxic metabolite (bioactivation). This active form then irreversibly disrupts normal nerve signal transmission. As a result, ants become paralyzed and die within a few days.
4. Application Tips
- Always read and follow label directions to protect yourself and the environment.
- Wear gloves when handling baits and insecticides.
- Keep children and pets away until the treated area is dry or as directed on the label.
- Don’t treat vegetable gardens, products generally say to leave a barrier 3 feet wide between treated and edible plant areas.
- Reapply bait every 3 - 4 months as needed, especially in spring and fall.
- Treat mounds that survive after 2 weeks with a direct mound application.
5. Prevention
- Reduce yard clutter, standing water, and piles of debris that could attract new colonies.
- Monitor treated areas for new mounds and retreat promptly.
6. Conclusion
Fire Ants are always unwelcomed guests and getting rid of them is a high priority, especially if you want to hang out in your yard. Paying attention to your lawn, especially after a rain, will help you quickly identify any of those troublesome and unwanted mounds. Routine inspection of your yard and using the right products will help you quickly get rid of these troublesome insects so you can enjoy your yard without the threat of being bitten by Fire Ants. If you have any questions or need more recommendations, stop by and see us. We’re happy to help in any way.
BES-TEX Supply
4512 Adobe Dr., San Angelo, TX 76903
325.653.1300 www.BES-TEX.com