Put a few potato chips, a piece of hotdog, potted meat, or a small pile of fire ant bait 5-10 feet from a fire ant mound. Wait 30-45 minutes and see if there are any fire ant workers around the food. If so, it is a good time to apply fire ant bait. Fire ants do not forage for food if it is too hot or too cold. The best temperatures for foraging are 70-90 degrees F. At certain times of year, particularly in winter, they are not interested in fatty foods and will not come to the oil-rich chip or bait pile.