How to Prevent Fire Ants

Fire ant mound in Eastern TN - Johnson Pest ControlFire ants, often called “red imported fire ants” originate from Brazil but were introduced to the United States around 1940. Since then, they have spread throughout much of the southeast, including right here in Tennessee. Because these pests can pose a serious threat, it’s important to know how to recognize them as well as how to stay safe from their painful stings. Learn more with the ant control experts right here at Johnson pest Control.

What to Know About Fire Ants

Fire ants differ from your typical house ant in a number of ways. The most important things to know about these potentially dangerous pests include:

  • If a fire ant mound is disturbed, they will attack as one unit. When disturbed, the ants will begin spilling out ready to attack—and each ant will sting repeatedly.
  • To begin a fire ant colony, queen fire ants mate with males, killing the male in the process, and fly to the site at which she’ll begin the new colony. The queen will lay up to 800 eggs per day, growing the colony to an average size of 100,000 to 500,000 ants.
  • Fire ants don’t bite—they sting! Their stings can result in a burning sensation, hence their name. The sting site may swell and itch. A small pustule sometimes develops where the stinger enters the skin.
  • If fire ants get on you, it’s important to quickly and repeatedly brush them off your skin. The ants can latch on tight, meaning shaking won’t repel them. If you develop symptoms from fire ants, it’s important to seek medical attention.
  • Fire ants typically nest outdoors in open areas. Parks and fields are usually primary targets, but yards can be as well. The mounds are often found lining your grass and concrete, and they typically form on humid days.

Need Help Getting Rid of Fire Ants?

Fire ant infographic for Tennessee - Johnson Pest ControlHow to Prevent Fire Ant Problems

To thrive, fire ants need moisture and shelter. By making your yard less attractive to fire ants in the first place, you can keep fire ants away from your property. This is best done by taking care of your lawn and yard. Here’s how to prevent fire ants from building a nest in or near your property:

  1. Trim back your trees and shrubs to keep fire ants from traveling on them.
  2. Rake back any mulch, straw, or other landscaping at least 6 inches from the structure of your home.
  3. Mow the lawn regularly to avoid overgrown grass. Remove grass clippings and piles of leaves to eliminate fire ant harborages.
  4. Store outdoor trash cans and dumpsters as far away from the structure as possible and be sure they have tight-fitting lids.
  5. If you start to see a fire ant nest form, avoid contact and get in touch with your local ant exterminators for treatment.

Need to Get Rid of Fire Ants?

Trying to get rid of a fire ant mound yourself is dangerous. Their colonies extend far under the ground and feature multiple queens. Fire ant treatment should always be administered by a professional ant control expert to keep yourself and your family safe.

For fire ant treatment in Eastern TN, contact the ant exterminators at Johnson Pest Control today!

Fire Ants in Tennessee [2021 UPDATE]

Fire ants in Tennessee by region - Johnson Pest ControlIf you are getting out into the garden this time of year then you will likely come across some ants. The ants we all know we do not want to come across are fire ants. Fire ants are serious pests that will swarm and bite all over you, your children, and your pets if they are agitated. These pests are common in Tennessee, making it important to learn all you need to know about them and the threats they bring. At Johnson Pest Control, we are committed to helping our communities learn about the threats of fire ants. Read on to learn all you need to know about fire ants in our region.

What Are Fire Ants?

Imported fire ants get their namesake from their ability to inflict painful bites and stings. Fire ants are an invasive species that are common here in Tennessee. They are most known for the large mound nests they create. These nests are large, flat, and irregular in shape. These ants will nest in the soil near buildings or in landscaping. If you come across a fire ant nest, it’s important to stay away—disturbing a fire ant nest can aggravate the ants, who will not hesitate to sting. Fire ant stings result in painful welts on the skin. This can be very dangerous for anyone allergic to insect stings.

What Do Fire Ants Look Like?

The red fire ant is larger in size than the average ant you will come across. The Red Fire Ant that is common to Tennessee will have a burnt red color and a dark, almost black posterior. These ants are segmented and have 6 legs. Needless to say, fire ants possess a stinger.


Worried About Fire Ants?



How To Treat For Fire Ants

To get rid of fire ants, it’s recommended to get assistance from a pest control professional. The three common methods to treat fire ants include:

  • Surface treatment using a residual contact poison. This approach is the least environmentally sound because the treated surface remains toxic for a long time. The ants may survive by foraging underground.
  • Individual mound treatment, which involves the application of a large volume of pesticide to reach the queen. However, it is nearly impossible to locate all of the colonies in an area, difficult to manipulate large volumes of liquid, and treatment is more expensive and time-consuming than other treatment options. Colonies not eliminated may move or split into several colonies.
  • Bait treatment, which uses some sort of attractive substance the ants like to eat. Unfortunately, baits are not always consumed, and the bait’s attractiveness is short-lived. The bait must be slow-acting and effective over a range of doses, since the dose the ants get, cannot be controlled. Baits may also be attractive to and kill some native ant species that compete with fire ants.

Imported Fire Ants in Tennessee

If you notice a fire ant mound in or near your property, it’s important to reach out to your local ant exterminators. At Johnson Pest Control, our ant control team is trained to properly take care of imported ant problems here in Sevierville TN. Contact us today to learn more!

6 Ways to Prevent Ants This Summer

Prevent summer ants in Sevierville TN - Johnson Pest ControlMost property owners have dealt with ants at one point or another. As the number one nuisance pest in the United States, it’s important to learn what you can do to keep ants away from your home. During the summertime, ant infestations spike in properties throughout the Sevierville TN area. To avoid the frustration of an ant infestation this summer, there are a number of things you can do to keep them from getting indoors in the first place. The team at Johnson Pest Control knows how frustrating these pests can be, which is why our experts are sharing the best ways to prevent ants this summer.

6 Tips to Prevent Ants in the Summertime

If you’ve had ants before, you likely never want to go through the frustration of getting another infestation! Ants typically make their way inside to seek out sources of food or shelter. Once indoors, they can spread quickly! Thankfully, there are several things you can do to lessen their chance of getting indoors in the first place:

    1. Keep a clean home. Sweep your floors regularly to get rid of crumbs. Ants are attracted to sugary food sources and a few crumbs will keep them coming back for more.
    2. Store food properly. Avoid leaving food out uncovered. Keep food in airtight containers or store them safely in cupboards and fridges.
    3. Seal entry points. Ants can crawl through the tiniest of cracks. Inspect your property and use caulk to seal any gaps, holes, or potential entry ways.
    4. Avoid excess moisture. Areas with standing water or leaks will attract ants quickly. Attend to broken pipes and clean up spills quickly.
    5. Trim back trees and vegetation. Plants close to your home can encourage ants to come in. Make sure tree branches, shrubs, and bushes are trimmed away from the perimeter!
    6. Pick up your pet’s food. Crumbs and spills from your cat or dog’s food and water bowls can be a huge attractant for ants. Always clean up and store bowls between mealtimes.

Having Trouble Keeping Ants Out?

Common Ants in the Summer

There are several types of ants that cause homeowners a lot of grief this time of year. With over 700 species of ants in the nation, it’s easy to get these pests confused with one another. That said, it’s important to know what you’re up against when you have an infestation. A few of the most common types of ants you’ll likely encounter in our area are odorous house ants, carpenter ants, fire ants, and pavement ants. For help identifying them, it’s always recommended to enlist the help of a professional.

What to Do When You Have Ants

If you’ve done all you can to prevent ants but still have trouble keeping them out, it’s time to call a professional ant control company. The ant exterminators at Johnson have the years of experience needed to keep ants out of your property for good!

What Not to Do With A Fire Ant Mound

Fire ants are growing in population throughout the southeast. If you have not had an experience with fire ants then count your blessings. These colonies of fire ants will swarm onto you, a child, a pet with unbelievable speed. Fire ants will then sting you (sometimes biting you to anchor themselves to sting you better) in the most unpleasant of experiences.

They are no fun.

If you find fire ants on your property the best method for dealing with these pests is to pay someone else to risk getting bit. In all seriousness, you can pick up some mound insecticide, bait, or water based insecticide to apply to a colony as directed.

What Not To Do

What we would suggest as a “What not to do with a fire ant mount” but find really cool is what the folks at AntHillArt are doing. They are pouring molten aluminum into various ant colonies to create these unique, rather fascinating, creations of “art”. The handling of hot molten aluminum is something that we, or any normal person, can suggest as NOT a good idea. The pouring of hot molten aluminum into a fire ant mount is probably equally NOT a good idea. That said, these folks are doing it and the results are really neat.

Here are the folks at AntHillArt creating a sculpture out of a fire ant mound.

Do not try this at home. We believe this is done by trained professionals. Though we are not exactly sure how one becomes a professional at this.

So next time you might run across a fire ant mound, feel free to think about this solution to get rid of ants, but do not actually do it. Watch the video and just give us a call to come help you out.