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 provided no irrigation is scheduled or rain is predicted within four hours following application. 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.

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