Red Imported Fire Ants represent a serious threat all over the state of Texas. Both ant species sting and bite are considered dangerous pests. The problem with the Red Imported Fire Ants, our pest control The Colony, TX specialists say, is that they threaten even beneficial insects and animals as well. They are invasive, hard to remove and particularly problematic, as they feed on everything dead or alive.

Today, our pest control The Colony, TX experts, together with their pest control, Plano TX colleagues have prepared a short crash course on Red Imported Fire Ants, emphasizing on their negative effects upon your lawn and garden and highlighting a few specific pest control measures.

1. How They Look

Red Imported Fire Ants are reddish in color and reach about 1/8 to 1/4 inches in length. They live underground, in colonies hosting up to 300-500,000 workers. Their mounds don’t have an opening in the center, as they travel through underground tunnels. A typical mound can reach 18 inches in height. You will see them become active in spring.

2. Where to Find Them

Unfortunately, Red Imported Fire Ants can be found anywhere you see open and sunny areas. Parks, pastures, meadows, cultivated fields and, of course, your lawn and garden. They favor dry and warm weather conditions and avoid shady areas. The main reason Red Imported Fire Ants are so problematic in Texas is that they don’t live only in your garden. They mound, nest, hide and crawl in electrical junction boxes, rotting logs, around stumps and trees, under or inside buildings. If their earth mounds are disturbed by animals or people, the workers get very aggressive and sting the intruder to the point of killing it. They usually like loose soil, but they don’t have a problem nesting under boards or stones, in cracks in the concrete, in woodwork or masonry.

3. What Do They Feed On

These pests are omnivorous and our pest control The Colony, TX expert warn about the dangers children, pets, beneficial insects, small animals and other wildlife species deal with if attacked by the ants. They feed on all possible plants, vegetables, and even seeds. They feed on dead insects and animals, no matter if they killed them or not, but can kill other insects, earthworms, ticks, spiders, or arthropod eggs in order to feed. They love honeydew and other sweets and are known to attack and kill even young and newborn vertebrate animals.

4. How to Get Rid of Them

The best and safest way to fight off these pests is to call a specialized pest control The Colony, TX company. Such professionals can employ tested and efficient pest control measures with little risks. Some of the most efficient treatments include:

  • Broadcast Fire Ant Bait
  • Liquid insecticide to treat each and every mound individually
  • Use of organic methods such as orange oil, boric acid or natural fire ants predators.

You should conduct an annual pest control inspection and alert specialists at the slightest sign of fire ants activity on your property. Ask your local pest control The Colony, TX experts for their help!