Treatment

The California Department of Food and Agriculture does not recommend homeowners attempt to treat Red Imported Fire Ant colonies on their own. If you suspect that Red Imported Fire Ants are on your property, please call toll-free at 1-888-4FIREANT. With one call, your local Red Imported Fire Ant authority or county agricultural commissioner's office will inspect your property for Red Imported Fire Ants and treat confirmed colonies at no cost to you.

Treatment Protocol
Treatment of the Red Imported Fire Ant is relatively simple, but must be done properly and in sequence to be effective. The California Department of Food and Agriculture uses an environmentally safe process.

The treatment consists of insect growth regulator (IGR) and a slow-acting pesticide, which are applied as baits. Both products are mixed with ground corncobs and soybean oil, a combination that is designed to attract Red Imported Fire Ants. The active ingredient in both products represents a small fraction of the total volume of the bait. In fact, there is less than 1/10th of an ounce of IGR active ingredient in a one-acre treatment.

The products can be applied in carefully measured quantities directly to the mound and the nearby area in one or two applications. Single applications consist of sprinkling the IGR onto the Red Imported Fire Ant mound and spreading the slow-acting pesticide in the area surrounding the mound. The two application procedure consists of application of the IGR, followed by the slow-acting pesticide in one to two weeks. Working together, both may eradicate the entire colony over several weeks. The slow-acting characteristics are preferred because the ants will avoid any food source they sense is quickly killing other ants.

The treatment is applied only when the Red Imported Fire Ants are actively foraging. They will pick up the bait and carry it into the mound in less than two hours. Bait not picked up by the ants loses potency quickly when exposed to water or sunlight. The IGR works by sterilizing the queen and preventing immature ants from maturing, while the slow-acting pesticide works as a pesticide to eradicate the colony.