Management Options of Fire Ants for Bodies of Water

• Introduction
• Management Options

• Home Lawns and Ornamental Turf
• Homes and Buildings
• Electrical Equipment and Utility Housing
• Home Gardens
• Composting, Mulch and Pavement
• Bodies of Water

• Organizing a Community-Wide Suppression Program
• Treatment Methods
• Biology and Identification
• Medical Problems
• History of Control Efforts
• Fire Ant Insecticides
• Policy Statement
• Acknowledgments
• Print this Lesson

Fire ants require water to survive and are often found near creeks, run-off ditches, streams, rivers, ponds, lakes and other bodies of water. If surface water is unavailable, they tunnel down to the water table many feet below the ground. Every effort must be made to avoid contaminating water with pesticides. Some ant control products, such as those containing fipronil, have specific restrictions on the label regarding their use near bodies of water. Fire ant bait products contain very small amounts of active ingredients and can be applied up to the water’s edge, but not directly to the water. A formulation of methoprene, the ingredient in Extinguish® bait, is registered for control of mosquito larvae in ponds and other bodies of water, but Extinguish® should not be applied to bodies of water.

Man applying fire ant bait near water using a hand-held spreader. Photo by Bart Drees.

To decrease the risk of pesticide runoff into waterways, apply baits when ants are actively foraging. When treating individual mounds near the water’s edge or in drainage or flood-prone areas, exercise special care and use products such as acephate (Orthene®) that have relatively low toxicity to fish. Pyrethrins, pyrethroids and rotenone products should be avoided because of their high toxicity to fish. Do not apply surface, bait or individual mound treatments if rains are likely to occur soon after treatment. Nearly all insecticides can be toxic to aquatic organisms if applied improperly.