It’s not an easy task, but it is possible. How do you get rid of fire ants? The answer is as complex as the question, and it’s not always a simple matter of pouring a can of chemical pesticide down the hole. Fire ants are inclined to fight back vigorously and mount an aggressive defense against attacks upon their colonies.

What You Will Need

In the battle against fire ants, you will need a little bit of experience and some patience. The tools that you will need include a long-handled shovel, heavy gloves, long pants, a long-sleeve shirt, eye protection and a respirator. It would be best if you also got some fire ant powder insecticide made for broadcast application.

Step 1 – Examine the Colony

Before you do anything, you will need to find the colony itself. Fire ant nests are easy to spot with the naked eye. The best place to look for them is in low-lying areas with high grass and anywhere you see termites or ants themselves. The ants will carry little debris in their mandibles as they move around. When the ants are inside the nest, they will be located in the bottom few inches of soil and gather together in a tight, branched group.

Step 2 – Put on the Protective Gear

When looking for one of these nests, you must always remember that this is a dangerous situation. The ants have been carrying with them a powerful poison sac that they shoot at intruders. If you are unlucky enough to get one of these shots, you will be in serious pain. Before you lift or move the grass or dig down, you should put on your safety gear.

Step 3 – Dust the Area with Ant Powder

When you have finally located a colony of fire ants, you can dust the area with a fire ant insecticide. This powdered insecticide will work through the colony and tunnels the ants have dug into the ground. The powder will be absorbed by the ants, killing them over time and helping to reduce their numbers.

Step 4 – Pump in Insecticide

The powder you apply to the colony is only intended to kill the worker ants, so you may want to follow up with an application of some liquid insecticide that can penetrate deeper into their nests.

Step 5 – Remove the Fire Ant Nest

This is the most important step in getting rid of fire ants. If you don’t remove the nest, you will find that it just grows back again and again. The best way to do this is to find some long-handled shovels, heavy gloves and enough protective gear to last all day. You should also have a wheelbarrow or some other moving device that can make removing the nest easier when you are done.

Step 6 – Fill the Void with Dirt

When you remove the nest, you will notice that it will be devoid of ants. When this happens, you can fill the hole with a four-inch layer of dirt.

Final Step – Continue to Spray the Area With Ant Powder Insecticide

When the nest has been restored to its former state and filled in, spraying the surrounding area with insecticide is essential. The entire colony of ants should be destroyed, including the queen. This insecticide will also help protect the future of your garden or lawn by ensuring that no new colonies of fire ants can move in to occupy that space.

Final Thoughts

Fire ants are very aggressive, and removing their nest will not be an easy or smooth task. However, if you follow the steps outlined above, it shouldn’t be too much work. If the method isn’t working, you may need to hire a professional exterminator to get rid of these ants.