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 |  | DIY Treatment: $10-$50+ |  | Professional Removal: $100-$300+ |
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Fire ants are aggressive, reddish-brown to black ants that are 1/16 to 1/4 inch long. There are two types of fire ants native to the United States, the southern fire ant and the tropical fire ant; there are also two types of invasive non-native species now present in the US, the red imported fire ant and the black imported fire ant. Red imported fire ants are the most aggressive, and are spreading rapidly. They build distinctive mounds of soft soil and are known for their multiple stinging bites, which can cause severe health problems in people who are allergic. Fire ants are found primarily in the South and Southwest, but are spreading to the Western states.
Typical costs: |
- Do-it-yourself bait and/or insecticide can cost $10-$50 or more, depending on the size of the property and the number of fire ant mounds.
- Having a pest control or landscaping service treat the property with bait designed to eliminate fire ants can cost $100-$300 or more, depending on location and the size of the property. For example, Meier's Landscape Maintenance[1] in Texas charges $69 each for twice-yearly treatments on an average lawn, or $138 a year. Larger and/or heavily infested properties will cost more.
Related articles: Ant Control, Pest Control
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What should be included: |
- Imported fire ants cannot be completely eradicated, but they can be controlled. Typically a two-step method is used -- once or twice a year doing a general broadcast of poison bait, followed in several days by individual treatment of nuisance mounds with an insecticide, which can be in a dust, granule, bait or drench form.
- As an alternative to insecticide, pouring scalding or boiling water (190 to 212 degrees Fahrenheit) into individual mounds works 20% to 60% of the time, according to the University of Florida IFAS Extension[2] . The university warns against home remedies such as pouring gasoline or other petroleum products, battery acids, bleaches, ammonia or other cleaning products into fire ant mounds These substances may be dangerous, can harm the environment and have not been proven effective against fire ants.
Shopping for fire ant control: |
- Get estimates from several companies. Find out how long each company has been in business, what type of training and experience the employees have, and what sort of guarantee is provided. The National Pest Management Association lists tips for choosing a pest control company[3] .
- The National Pest Management Association and the Termite Institute offer online locators to search for a local exterminator.
- Ask for (and contact) references from satisfied customers.
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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments |
| Posted by: Fake in austin, TX. | Posted: February 1st, 2017 06:02AM |
| Removal Method: digging up ground, not replacing it | Contractor or Product Used: Bug boys |
they did a terrible job and know there are more ants than ever cant take a step without getting bitten and know the anti bug bait in the house has turned into quality ant food and there moving in!!! |
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External Resources: |
- www.meierslandscape.com/residential/content/view/13/33/
- edis.ifas.ufl.edu/lh059
- www.pestworld.org/find-a-pest-control-professional/tips-on-finding-a-pro/
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