How to Get Rid of Fire Ants

Many of us have had the unfortunate experience of being stung by a fire ant. These dark red ants have large mandibles that they use to latch on to potential threats, delivering powerful stings for such small insects. Whether you’re wondering how to get rid of fire ants in the house or a fire ant colony in your yard, you can trust the technicians at Florida Pest Control to help.

Where Do Fire Ants Live?

Fire ants were accidentally transported to the United States from Brazil in the 1930s. They have been spreading from Alabama across the country ever since. Fire ants find exactly what they like here in Florida. You can find fire ants living by:

• Irrigated lawns
• Softer soil
• The edges of water banks
• Ponds and lakes, and more

Given our humid and wet environment, the moisture that fire ants require to live comfortably is abundant. As such, they have become a persistent problem for homeowners across the state.

What Kills Fire Ants?

Many homeowners that we have talked to have asked us about natural ways to get rid of fire ants. The most important way to conduct fire ants treatment is to find their colony. If you are able to locate it, you can try introducing these elements to their environment:

1. Diatomaceous earth: this works to dehydrate the ants from the outside
2. Boiling water: when (carefully) poured into a smaller ant colony, this can wipe out the population
3. White vinegar: this works better as a spot treatment to get rid of fire ants in the house.
4. Dig them out: you can actually dig out their colonies and either dump them elsewhere or drown the colony. If you choose this route, dig at midday when most of the ants will be home.

How to Get Rid of Fire Ant Hills

Sometimes, DIY fire ant control fails to get rid of your problem for good. When you’ve located the source of the fire ant colony that won’t leave you alone, it’s time to contact your local pest control company. The ant experts at Florida Pest Control are trained to safely and effectively deal with fire ant hills, ensuring that the colony is wiped out and any adjacent, undiscovered colonies are taken care of as well. Don’t hesitate to feel secure in your yard again—contact our team for a free quote on fire ant pest control!