• Introduction
• The Problem
• Developing a Management Plan

• Farmstead or Headquarters
• Hay Pastures
• Livestock Pastures or Rangelands
• Farm Ponds
• Orchards
• Field Crops

• Bait Basics
• Individual Mound Treatments
• More Information
• Disclaimer
• Contributors
• Print this Lesson

Use sites comprising the farmstead or headquarters may include homes, barns, storage buildings, and other structures; electrical and utility fixtures such as air conditioners; and ornamental turf, bedding plant, and vegetable garden areas. The potential for economic loss as well as the loss of enjoyment or access are the greatest and the tolerance for imported fire ants is the lowest in these areas. Alternatives for fire ant control in these locations are the greatest because these are not necessarily agricultural lands.

Man applying a mound drench in a pasture.

The two-step method of fire ant control is the most suitable for treating the acre or so that constitutes the farmstead or headquarters. This method relies on the broadcast application of a bait-formulated product once or twice per year. More labor-intensive, expensive but faster-acting mound treatments are used to treat only nuisance ant mounds that may develop between broadcast bait applications (see Bait Basics). This approach can provide about 90 percent control that can be maintained at relatively low cost. Alternatively, a contact insecticide, such as fipronil granules, or a pyrethroid liquid or granular formulation, such as permethrin lambda-cyhalothrin, and bifenthrin, can be applied to the surface of the entire lawn as directed. Fire ant problems in sensitive areas such as compost piles and gardens may be prevented by treating around the perimeter with a bait or granular insecticide. If it is necessary to control fire ants in vegetable gardens, use only products registered for this use and with instructions for such applications in that use site (See Field Crops).

Treatment of the entire grounds around the headquarters area should prevent infestations of ants indoors and in utility boxes. If ants do cause problems in these areas, specialty products are available that can be applied to eliminate and prevent future infestations. For instance, faster-acting bait formulations such as those containing indoxacarb, hydramethylnon or spinosad can be applied around utility boxes or other inaccessible areas to eliminate colonies within a few days. Conversely, insect strips such as Hot Shot® No-Pest Strip (dichlorvos) and Rainbow High Tech Insectape Insecticidal Strip or Insect Patch (propoxur) can help prevent infestations in utility housings.