How to get rid of fire ants | Non-toxic

How to get rid of fire ants

Fire ants earn their name. Disturb a mound and hundreds pour out to sting. The raised dirt mounds they leave across a yard are as frustrating as the bites. They are mostly an outdoor problem, so the goal is to treat the mounds directly and protect the perimeter of your home, all without soaking your lawn in synthetic pesticide.

Why fire ants are so stubborn

A fire ant colony can hold hundreds of thousands of ants and more than one queen, so treating only the surface leaves the colony to rebuild within days. They build in open, sunny ground and move fast when disturbed, which is why a treatment has to reach down into the mound rather than just dust the top. Take care around children and pets, since fire ants attack in numbers. (More on the how and why: How to get rid of ants in the house and Red imported fire ants: a growing threat in Florida, Texas and beyond.)

The non-toxic fix

Six Feet Under kills fire ants on contact with plant-based active ingredients, so it handles the stray foragers you find on patios, paths or indoors. Puff Dust to Dust with the Insect Buster directly into and around the mound so the powder works down where the colony lives. To keep them from moving toward the house, prepare Barricade according to label directions and treat the perimeter of your home.

Knock down the mounds

• Treat the mound: puff Dust to Dust into and around each mound rather than only the top.
• Hit stray foragers: spray fire ants on contact with Six Feet Under on patios, paths and thresholds.
• Protect the perimeter: treat the foundation and exterior of your home with Barricade.
• Protect people and pets: keep children and animals off treated areas until dry and take care near active mounds.

Related: How to get rid of ants and Non-toxic ants control.

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