4 Reasons Why Fighting Fire Ants Isn’t a DIY Job
Your southern lawn is everything you want it to be: green, healthy and weed-free. Then you spot the dreaded mound, the tell-tale sign of a fire ant colony. Your first impulse may be to take control of the situation and attempt to eradicate the nasty pests yourself. We caution against that for some very good reasons.
Top 4 Reasons You Should Not Try to Take on Fire Ants Yourself
1. Fire ants are very aggressive and territorial, making them dangerous.
There are several species of fire ant, and although the larger red ant is considered the most dangerous, all fire ants are venomous. They attack by first biting and, once latched on to their victim, they then deliver their venom by stinging. In most cases, a person or pet that is attacked will experience severe pain. In some cases, however, the venom can be fatal in high enough concentrations.
The upshot is it’s best to keep a safe distance from any mound and the surrounding area.
2. You can’t be sure which fire ant species you’re dealing with.
Multiple species can live near each other. So even if you’ve spotted only the smaller “less dangerous” species, it does not mean that the larger, more dangerous red fire ant isn’t in the mix. A swarm of red fire ants can make its presence known only after you’ve disturbed a nest. This is worth knowing in case you’re still tempted to tackle the problem yourself.
3. Fire ant treatments can damage grass and soil.
It’s extremely important that the right product is applied correctly and at the right dose. Misapplication can end up poisoning the soil and killing grass.
4. DIY fire ant control is largely ineffective.
When it comes to fire ants, there is far more than meets the eye. Beneath the visible mound lies a vast underground network of tunnels. The tunnels can extend to 10 feet deep and run from 200 to 300 feet long. How many fire ants does that translate to? For every mound, you can expect between 100,000 and 300,000 fire ants. Most DIY attempts to control fire ants do little to control such large populations.
So, what’s the solution to your fire ant problem?
The lawn care techs at Southern Lawns know how to safely and effectively control fire ants. We use TopChoice, a Bayer product proven to control fire ants without damaging your turf when professionally applied. A single treatment is effective against fire ants for a full year, and also controls fleas, ticks, and mole crickets.
Request your FREE fire ant control estimate today. You do not need to be enrolled in one of our lawn care programs to get the treatment.
Photo Credit: Homedepot.com, Snopes.com
