Spring is a good time to get a start on fire ant control. and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts recommend taking the first steps now.

“This is the time of year when ants begin foraging for food and when spring rains percolate through the soil and destroy underground fire ant tunnels,” said Dr. Robert Puckett, AgriLife Extension entomologist in Texas A&M’s Department of Entomology. “This causes them to deposit new tunnel soil as a mound on the surface above, making them much easier to locate.”

Puckett recommends the Two-Step Method for controlling fire ants.

The Two-Step Method is less labor-intensive and less toxic than traditional at-home fire ant control and is an efficient way to safely control fire ants.

The first step is applicating a semi-annual broadcast of fire ant bait.

“Spring and fall are particularly good times to apply baits,” Puckett said. “Once it gets hot and dry, as in the summer months, fire ants become less active, and mounds become less visible as ants go deeper into the soil.”

Broadcasting bait across the property means the user doesn’t have to find the colonies.

“Fire ant colonies can be difficult to locate, especially over a large area, so using a bait is less costly in terms of time and the amount of product needed for treating larger areas,” Puckett said. “Ants pick up the bait and return it to the nest, so they do most of the work for you.”

Puckett notes fire ant bait concentration is very low compared to residential insecticides. Baits that work faster are also more expensive.

“The recommended amount of grains per area is fairly low, so it’s not necessary to use a lot of insecticide,” he said. “While the efficacy of baits may differ, they all work pretty well.”

Fire ant mounts are most visible this time of year. So, the second step is to apply follow-up treatments on individual mounds or “nuisance” ant colonies in sensitive or high-traffic areas.

“Most contact insecticides applied directly to the mound kill the colony in one-to-two days,” Puckett said. “If the area has just a few mounds, then it may not even be necessary to apply bait as a first step.”

Liquid drench or some form of granular, non-bait insecticide or dust can be used. It is important to follow label instructions and not mix too little or too much water if using a liquid insecticide, he said.

“Aside from the label being the law, these products have been tested for efficacy and safety at a particular concentration, so you don’t want to guess at what may or may not happen if you vary from instructions,” Puckett said.

It is also important to wear proper protection like gloves and safety googles.

AgriLife created the Two-Step Method to help consumers understand fire ant control products.