(NAPSA)—If you live in the southern regions of the U.S., now is the time to think aboutfire ants. Treating early can prevent these pests from invading your yard and wreaking havoc on yourlife. Fire ants currently inhabit about 13 states. They take up residence in yards, sidewalks, playgrounds and electric boxes and are both a nuisance and a dangerto your family. Fire ants pose safety risks— particularly for children and pets—because they bite andsting. Not only can fire ants damage property, but their mounds can be a danger. Warmer temperatures create a welcome environment as fire ants begin the task of starting new colonies. Foragers start doing some work near the surface of the soil as they look for food—making spring the best time to stop these pests in their tracks. “It is extremely important to treat before the fire ants divide into new colonies,” says Neal Denton, extension agent and county director with the University of Tennessee. “In order to do so, you must get to them early in the spring.” Fire Ant Treatment There are two common approaches for effectively controlling fire ants—broadcast treatment and mound treatment. For large yards and early season prevention, use a broadcast treatment to treat the entire yard. For smaller areas when visible mounds are present, use a mound treatment around individual mounds. For the most complete control, especially in the case of severe infestation, experts recommend the Two-Step Method using both broadcast and mound treatment. First, treat your entire yard with a broadcast treatment, such as Over ’n Out Fire Ant Killer or Ampro FireStrike, just like you fertilize your lawn. Broadcast treatments eliminate fire ants you can’t see. Then, treat particularly stub- VISIBLE MOUND HIDDEN MOUNDS Fire ant mounds are notalwaysvisible; some are hidden below ground. To effectively treat for fire ants, treat both visible and hidden mounds with the recommended Two-Step Method. born mounds you see with AMDRO Fire Ant Bait to eliminate fire ant activity in as little as one week. Workerants believe the bait is food and bring it down to their tunnels to feed their queen and other ants, killing the ants and destroying the colony. Used together, these treatments provide season-long control. Neighborhood Programs The best way for homeowners to treat and prevent fire ant infestations is to coordinate application of fire ant products with neighbors to get rid of these pests. “There are a numberof benefits to neighborhood programs,” says Tim Davis, a fire ant suppression specialist with Clemson (S.C.) University. “A coordinated effort between neighbors makes the treated areas bigger, making it harder for fire ants to recolonize. The larger the treated area, the longer it takes the ant population to rebound.” Areas with diligent neighborhood programs, where multiple homeowners treat their property at the same time with the same two-step treatment, can reduce the number of active mounds by as much as 96 percent. For more information about fire ants, visit www.FireAntFree. com or the FireRANT! blog at http://blog.TheFireRANT.com.
