Fire ants in Florida

The red imported fire ant arrived from South America and is now one of Florida’s most common yard pests. Workers are reddish-brown with a darker abdomen, and a single colony has workers of different sizes, which is one way to tell a fire ant mound from other ant mounds. Disturb a mound and hundreds of ants swarm out to sting.

Where fire ants build mounds

Fire ants prefer sunny, open ground: lawns, garden beds, playgrounds and the edges of driveways and sidewalks. Mounds often pop up after heavy rain. In Pasco, Pinellas, Hernando and Hillsborough, new construction and freshly laid sod are common trouble spots.

Why fire ants are a problem

• Painful stings that can form itchy pustules; people who are allergic should seek medical care right away after stings
• Risk to children and pets playing in the yard
• Mounds that damage lawns and make yard work miserable

What works and what doesn’t

A fire ant colony survives as long as its queen does, and many colonies have more than one. UF/IFAS Extension notes that baits are slower but more effective than drenching a mound, because workers carry the bait back to the queen and brood. Bait should go around the mound where ants forage, not on top. Home remedies like grits don’t harm the ants, and boiling water may not reach deep enough to kill the queen.

How DNR treats fire ants

We combine bait treatments that reach the whole colony with targeted mound treatments where ants are a danger, such as near play areas and walkways. DNR offers a one-time fire ant treatment, and when we treat the entire property, it comes with a 1-year warranty. Call 727-594-0404 or book a free consult.

Related pest spotlights: Florida Carpenter Ants, Ticks and Fleas.

FAQ

Do grits or boiling water kill fire ants? Grits don’t harm them. Boiling water can damage a mound but often misses the queen, and it kills the grass around it.

Why do fire ants keep coming back? Untreated colonies nearby send new queens into treated yards. Treating the entire property gives the longest-lasting results, which is why DNR’s 1-year warranty applies only to whole-property treatments.

Are all mound-building ants fire ants? No. Florida also has a native fire ant and other mound-building ants. Mixed worker sizes and aggressive swarming are signs of the red imported fire ant.

Sources: UF/IFAS Extension, Fire ants: ways to co-exist with this invasive species, citing Managing Imported Fire Ants in Urban Areas. Reviewed by Ricky Williams, Certified Operator in Charge.