All the Dirt: Experts share tips on tackling fire ants
Fire ants are on the march in the southern Commonwealth and they are heading north. Much of Southside Virginia is under a fire ant quarantine as state agriculture officials try to slow their spread. Here are two control options if you spot them in your yard, garden and house.
Solenopsis invicta–fire ants as we know them–are an invasive species of ants known to be more aggressive and carry a more powerful sting. They’ve been known to kill calves, baby deer, quail, and pets.
Your average colony can contain anywhere between 100,000 to 500,000 ants and some of the biggest factors to their numbers have to do with rain. When they get the moisture, they push up out of the ground. All of the recent rain is triggering their rise.
David Shockey is the assistant manager for Garden World which carries a variety of remedies for an ant problem. He says, “The baits to me are the most efficient because you don’t have to be as direct with your approach and chase down every mound. You sprinkle it over an area and they will find it as they forage.”
Some people don’t want to use those harsh chemicals near or inside the house, so orange oil with vinegar and water can be sprayed along baseboards, doorways, and windows as a safer ant control.
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