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Going out this past weekend to work on the yard, I noticed several new fire-ant mounds that were not there last Saturday. I have four beautiful children, and the mix of fire ants and children in the yard simply does not work! Our grass had really grown this past week, and we need to rake a little — this allowed the ants to tear us up.

During these warm, dry months of the year, fire ants are prolific. So, what can you do in your yard? The first line of defense is always cultural control — that is to say, management activities that we can control.

We come into contact with fire ants, like many undesirable pests, while they are foraging. We can mitigate the abundance of fire ants by controlling the amount of forage we leave behind. Outdoor trash cans around our homes, public places and even schools should be emptied frequently during the day. Make an effort not to leave cans with trash, especially food, overnight. Keep the area around the trash cans clean. Clean any spillage immediately. Trim shrubs around your home or office to keep the ants from using them as a bridge to get across treated areas. Mowing your lawn frequently, and at the right height, has been shown to deter fire-ant establishment in turf.

Next, there are chemical treatments. There are baits, mound drenches and broadcast insecticides available. Individual mound treatment is always the best to ensure off-target species are not killed. Always remember that beneficial insects can be killed too. When we kill beneficial insects, we usually create a bigger problem than we started with.

The best course of action is a two-step method, using both baits and mound drenches to treat individual mounds. In this method, baits are placed around the mound, foragers carry the bait back to the mound, and begin to kill the queen and larvae. Two applications, spaced five to seven days apart, will provide great results.

A word about baits: they are just that — bait! If you allow it to sit out in the hot sun before application, it is going to lose much of its appeal to the ants. Keep baits closed up tight, out of the sun and out of reach of children.

Next, use a mound drench to finish off the colony. This is done according to application directions on the product label. You will need to mix the chemical as directed, then water it into the mound with the correct amount of water. When adding the water to the mound, it is best done with a shower head or sprinkler can. Be sure to wear proper personal protective equipment when applying any chemical!

For more information and examples of products that can be used to treat fire ants around your home or business, visit the N.C. State University publication, Red Imported Fire Ant in North Carolina, Biting and Stinging pests at content.ces.ncsu.edu/red-imported-fire-ant-in-north-carolina. N.C. State Extension provides unbiased, research-based, university information to you, the consumer or producer. If you have not visited your local Cooperative Extension center, you may be pleasantly surprised by all of the information, workshops and programming we offer.

If you have a question to submit, please Gene Fox at gene_fox@ncsu.edu. If you’re having trouble with growing in your home landscape, call the Extension office at 252-946-0111,  Mondays and Wednesdays between 10 a.m. and noon, to speak to an Extension Master Gardener volunteer. If you would like to be a Master Gardener volunteer, classes began Tuesday, but there is still time to join in the fun! Please call the Beaufort County Center to find out more and get registered Monday morning. Classes will be both online via Zoom and in-person for hands-on learning. Until then, happy gardening!

Gene Fox is the area consumer horticulture agent for N.C. Cooperative Extension.