Want to know more about the ants popping up in your lawn? Here are a few excerpts from “Red Imported Fire Ant” from the Texas Invasive Species Institute.
Any Texan who has walked through a field and seen dozens of Red Fire Ant mounds knows the destructive power of the Red Imported Fire Ant. Not only are the mounds unsightly, but they can ruin lawns and, more ecologically important, they can displace native ants from their habitat. […]
Red Imported Fire Ants attack very quickly and in great numbers, as many humans who have accidentally stepped on a mound will attest.
In addition to their ecological effects on native fauna, humans are impacted economically by the Red Imported Fire Ant. Lawns, ranches, or other lands can be permanently altered by the Red Imported Fire Ant because of their ability to build many mounds in a clustered area. It is not uncommon to see an entire field dotted with large Red Imported Fire Ant mounds.
Managing the Red Imported Fire Ant has proven difficult, as the ants are hearty and tough to eradicate. Presently, insecticides seem to be the best and most-recommended option. If your property is overrun with Red Imported Fire ants, you should contact a professional exterminator rather than attempt a potentially fruitless (or dangerous) remedy yourself.
