Fire ants are more than just a nuisance—they’re aggressive, cause painful stings, and are extremely challenging to remove once established in colonies on your property. The tiny foes build these huge underground nests and can disperse quickly if left unchecked. This guide will discuss early detection of fire ant activity, prevention techniques, and when to call a professional fire ant exterminator to keep your home pest-free.
Warning Signs of Having Fire Ants on Your Property
Early detection can stop full-fledged infestations from breaking out. Keep a lookout for the following:
- Mounds of loose soil: Fire ants build their characteristic dome-like mounds that can often be found in lawns, gardens, and near the foundations of buildings.
- Aggressive behavior: Fire ants will swarm and sting repeatedly when disturbed. Their sting hurts badly; the burning welts can occasionally be lethal to the allergic ones.
- Visible trails of ants: If you see an ever-increasing trail of ants leading toward food sources, then you might have a nearby growing colony.
Best Practices for Keeping Fire Ants Out of Your Home
1. Keep Your Yard Well-Maintained
Fire ant colonies love overgrown, clumpy areas. Keeping the grass nicely mowed, bushes trimmed, and debris out of the yard would all make the area less attractive to them.
2. Eliminate Food Sources
Fire ants are constant foragers for food. Please clean up after outdoor eating times, keep all pet food inside, and ensure all garbage cans are tightly sealed to prevent them from being attracted.
3. Seal Entry Points Around Your Home
Fire ants can find their way indoors through minute cracks and openings. Check around doors, windows, and foundations for any places of entry, and seal these with caulk or weather stripping.
4. Use Fire Ant-Repelling Landscaping Techniques
Certain plants like mint, lavender, and marigolds can be unwelcoming to fire ants. Try incorporating some into your landscaping to not create an inviting asylum.
5. Maintain Proper Moisture Levels
Fire ants are found in moist environments. Excessive irrigation or watering the lawn attracts fire ants. Therefore, ensure proper drainage at all times and avoid excessive irrigation.
When Should You Hire a Pest Control Exterminator?
If the fire ants are already established in colonies on your property, then the do-it-yourself approach may not be adequate. Consider calling a fire ant exterminator if:
- The infestations have spread to all yard corners, with several mounds being sighted.
- Natural remedies and store-bought treatment have not solved a considerable ant problem.
- You or another family member have bad allergic reactions to fire-ant stings.
A fire ant exterminator has access to specific treatments that effectively kill fire ants while preventing future infestations.
Conclusion
Repelling a fire ant invasion is far more challenging than avoiding them. If you’ve noticed fire ants in your area, contact Fullscope Pest Control today. Infestations can be a real pain, but we have the solutions to eradicate them for good. Our fire ant exterminators specialize in all aspects of fire ant control, using proven techniques to target established populations.
For a pest-free property, contact us today!
