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Fire Ants in Mississippi

Tips on using fire ant baits successfully

  • Only use baits that are specifically labeled for fire ants.
  • Read the label twice, once before you buy and again before you treat.
  • Apply fire ant baits by broadcasting them over the entire yard.
  • Don’t apply too much. The rate for most baits is only one to two pounds per acre.
  • Use a spreader specifically designed for fire ant bait.
  • Avoid irrigating for at least two days after applying baits.
  • Try to avoid applying baits just before rainfall.
  • Treat again if rainfall occurs within 12 hours after a bait application.
  • Use fresh bait. Ants don’t like old bait that has gone rancid.
  • Be patient. Baits are slow-acting.
  • Apply fire ant baits preventively. Don’t wait till you see large mounds.
  • Apply baits one to three times per year, depending on location.
  • Use the holidays, Easter, Independence Day, and Labor Day as reminders.
  • Use individual mound treatments to eliminate mounds the baits miss.

Contact

Dr. Blake Layton, Extension Entomology Specialist
Department of Entomology, Mississippi State University
Phone: (662) 325-2085
Email: blayton@entomology.msstate.edu