Fire ants are the bane of every lawn in McKinney. They are aggressive and stinging pests that not only invade your backyard, but can also ruin outdoor gatherings and harm pets. Moreover, they compromise your yard’s aesthetics with their unsightly mounds. 

Once you spot a new mound, your instinct might be to grab any household item and destroy it. However, eliminating fire ants is not that simple. In fact, using the wrong technique or applying the wrong product or dosage can be dangerous. Oftentimes, they simply move their colony a few feet away. 

If you spot a fire ant mound in your yard, do not risk getting stung or making the problem worse. Talk to a reputable McKinney pest control company for professional advice and solutions. 

The Do’s 

If you are attempting to treat the mound yourself, here are some tips:

1. DO Use Ant Bait Correctly 

Ant bait contains an insecticide mixed with a food attractant. Worker ants transport the toxic bait back to the nest, where it is consumed by the queen, which eliminates the colony from the inside out. Make sure to apply bait during the active hours, which include the morning or late afternoon. 

Additionally, knowing the proper application procedure is important, too. Make sure to scatter the bait lightly around the mound, not directly on top of it. Applying it directly can contaminate the bait, causing the workers to reject it.

2. DO Treat The Entire Yard 

Do not make the mistake of focusing only on the visible mounds. Try the two-step approach of treating individual mounds and then applying a broadcast treatment to your entire lawn. This will kill new and smaller colonies that you have not spotted yet. 

3. DO Practice Safety First 

Make sure to wear closed-toe shoes, socks, and gloves when applying the treatment products. Fire ants are highly aggressive, and disturbing the mound can result in multiple painful stings. Keep children and pets away from the treated area for the time specified on the product label.

The Don’t’s 

These are some common DIY mistakes that you need to be aware of. They can push the problem to become larger. 

1. DON’T Use Water Or Gasoline 

Do not douse a fire ant mound with hot water, boiling water, or any type of flammable liquid (like gasoline or diesel). This is one of the most dangerous and least effective methods.

Boiling water may kill a few ants, but the queen is deep underground. This only disturbs the colony temporarily and then moves to another spot to create another one. Flammable liquids are toxic, pollute your McKinney soil, and pose severe fire hazards. 

2. DON’T Use Household Foods 

DIY methods like sprinkling grits, baking soda, or instant mashed potatoes on the mound are urban legends. These items do not kill the ants, and the queen will continue to produce thousands of offspring. At best, they provide a temporary distraction.

3. DON’T Disturb The Mound 

While you may be tempted to do so, do not kick, poke, or shovel the mound during treatment. This can immediately signal them about danger, causing the worker ants to swarm out in order to defend the queen. 

You might get painfully stung if you disturb a mound. Remember, the end goal is to eliminate the colony quietly with bait, quietly, without provoking a defensive attack. 

When To Call Pest Control

If you have one or two mounds, you might be able to tackle them with over-the-counter treatments. However, if they are numerous in number and cover a large area, professional treatment is the safest option. 

The experts at Romney Pest Control use professional-grade products that are highly effective at reaching the deep-seated queen. Call Romney Pest Control today for guaranteed fire ant control and reclaim your outdoor space!