The Texas Two-Step: Most Effective Solution for Fire Ants
Believe it or not, the most dangerous fire ants, Solenopsisinvicta, are not native to North America. In fact, it wasn’t until they hitched a ride on shipping vessels to the port of Mobile, Alabama, in the 1930s that they first set foot on this continent. But once they arrived, they took over with a vengeance, wreaking havoc on ecosystems, homes, and gardens, and even bringing some animals to the brink of extinction.
One of the primary factors they have become such a nuisance is their difficulty to treat. Even the most successful of pest control solutions have been nothing more than a small road block in their invasion, leaving researchers and pest control professionals alike scratching their heads in search of an answer.
But there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and it just might be the solution we have all been waiting for. A new treatment commonly referred to as the Texas Two-Step is being reigned the most effective way to control these invasive pests, and it eliminates the need for toxic chemicals. If fire ants have taken over your property, follow these two simple steps to get them out and keep them from returning in the future.
The Texas Two-Step
No, I’m not talking about dawning cowboy boots and hitting the dance floor. The Texas Two-Step is the safest and most effective treatment for fire ants, especially when dealing with a severe infestation. Developed by researchers at Texas A&M University, this organic treatment offers complete control for fire ants without the need for toxic chemicals.
Relying solely on the targeted application of organic insecticides, researchers have found a way to kill these ants at their source by eliminating the queen’s ability to produce future offspring – responsible for perpetuating infestations. The treatment involves two simple steps, explained below:
Step 1: Applying Baits
The first step begins with spreading an organic fire ant killing bait in problem areas of your yard. The idea is that once applied, the pests will take the bait back to their nest for the queen to consume. After the queen eats the insecticide, she will become infertile or die, in turn eliminating future generations of fire ants from being born. This first step is important because locating every mound can be a difficult task, and using the fire ants to do the ground work for you will increase the effectiveness of the treatment as a whole.
The best time to apply the baits is when your grass is dry and will remain so for a few days. This will prevent the solution from becoming diluted and less effective. It’s worth noting that, although you can perform this step anytime of the year, it is most effective when applied in late summer
and early fall, at a time when the weather conditions are more favorable, and the fire ants are actively bringing food back to their nests.
Step 2: Mound Treatment
Once you have applied fire ant baits throughout your property, the next step is to treat the individual mounds. After locating the nests through an inspection of your property, apply an organic insecticide on and around the mound to treat the fire ants at their source. It is recommended to use liquid drenches rather than dust products, as they are faster-acting and leave less surface residue after application.
There are a number of non-toxic insecticides on the market that can be effectively used during this second step, including mound drench products that contain botanical insecticides and biological control agents. Another organic route is to pour two to three gallons of boiling water directly in the opening of the mound to kill the ants. No matter what organic treatment you use, you will need to apply regularly to effectively remove all fire ants from your property.
It is important to remember that the Texas Two-Step method is most effective when dealing with larger infestations. If you have a few lone fire ant mounds, you are probably better off using a simple organic treatment. Also keep in mind that this treatment is non-discriminatory - in other words, it will kill any and all ant species in the area. If you do not want to eliminate native ant species from your property, you should consider utilizing alternative treatment methods. For additional questions or concerns about this treatment, don’t hesitate to contact your local pest control company and ask for their guidance in eliminating fire ants once and for all.
About the Author:
Daniel Mackie, co-owner of Greenleaf Pest Control, is a Toronto pest control expert well-known as an industry go-to guy, an innovator of safe, effective pest control solutions, and is a regular guest on HGTV. Mackie, along with business partner Sandy Costa, were the first pest control professionals in Canada to use detection dogs and thermal remediation for the successful eradication of bed bugs. In his free time, he is an avid gardener.
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