Getting Rid Of Fire Ants

@CarolDM (203396)
Nashville, Tennessee
February 23, 2022 12:32pm CST
Walking around in the yard earlier, picking up a few limbs from all the wind lately. I noticed a huge fire ant mound in the backyard. You can pour boiling water and kill most of them. But I have pesticide to use specifically for fire ants. You have to kill the queen or it will not be successful. Growing up I remember being stung by these ants. Had to go to the emergency room. It was not fun at all. I had bites all over me. This can be very dangerous. Now the ants are all gone. Managed to get the pesticide on in between rain showers. Photo courtesy of Home Depot.
17 people like this
18 responses
@Ronrybs (21497)
• London, England
23 Feb 22
I have heard of these and am not at all surprised you want them gone quickly
2 people like this
@Ronrybs (21497)
• London, England
1 Mar 22
@CarolDM I fear they are like taxes and keep returning!
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
1 Mar 22
@Ronrybs I think you are correct unfortunately.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
23 Feb 22
They are gone for now. I hope they don’t return soon.
1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
24 Feb 22
We are currently having a problem with ants too inside our house. They're there day and night. We just have to extend our patience because they're seasonal I guess.
1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
25 Feb 22
@CarolDM That's better than ours which are inside the house :)
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
25 Feb 22
These were outside in the yard.
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
25 Feb 22
@sunrisefan Never have them inside thank goodness.
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
24 Feb 22
Oh yikes! Good thing you know just what to do to get rid of them. We see them on our hikes . . . we look around and avoid them all we can . . . not good when you realize you're in standing in their path .
1 person likes this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
25 Feb 22
@CarolDM Stepping on them is good . Get them before they get you !
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
25 Feb 22
@much2say But it was an accident and I had to run.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
24 Feb 22
I keep my distance for sure. Have stepped on them while looking up to photograph birds once.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (91297)
• United States
24 Feb 22
Glad you got that pesticide done then. Sorry to hear you got bit like that not good. Must have been very painful. They are nasty things.
1 person likes this
• United States
24 Feb 22
@CarolDM Just the regular ants here..I usually just can use cinnamon to get rid of those
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
24 Feb 22
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
24 Feb 22
Thanks I am glad too.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (56241)
• Canada
24 Feb 22
We had a neighbour when we were first married, who was bit by one of those ants when they were in Florida on a little holiday one winter and he never recovered. He didn't know it but he was allergic to the bit and was unconscious and on a ventilator within 45 minutes and then his wife had to call her son to come and make that awful decision about pulling the plug. Such a sad experience. I am glad that you dealt with your mound of them properly.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (56241)
• Canada
24 Feb 22
@CarolDM Very bad reaction he had no ideas he would react like that.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
24 Feb 22
@Juliaacv So sad to hear.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
24 Feb 22
Oh wow that is a horrible reaction. I have never heard of that happening. How sad. Thanks, they are dealt with every year.
1 person likes this
@askme123 (6223)
24 Feb 22
Are they as big as seen in the photo?
1 person likes this
@askme123 (6223)
25 Feb 22
@CarolDM Ok I see
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
26 Feb 22
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
24 Feb 22
No, this is enlarged to see the details, but they are larger than a regular ant and red.
1 person likes this
• United States
23 Feb 22
I have 3 or 4 big fire ant hills in my yard. A huge one is right by were I walk to go to the mail box, today I stepped on the edge by mistake, boy you should have seen all the ants coming out of the top. Over the years I have tried to get rid of them, to tell the truth, I think they just move. I have even used the pesticide that suppose to kill the queen, after I'm done it looks like their all gone. But the next year there will be more in the same spot. From what I read, fire ants will go six feet underground, no wonder I can't kill them! lol
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
23 Feb 22
Yes they do go underground and build more nests. But you do what you can.
• United States
23 Feb 22
@CarolDM Yea, I do hate them things, I think they would live though the adam bomb! lol
@Tina30219 (82978)
• Onaway, Michigan
24 Feb 22
Glad to hear you got rid of them .
1 person likes this
@Tina30219 (82978)
• Onaway, Michigan
25 Feb 22
@CarolDM Your welcome.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
25 Feb 22
Thanks me too.
@Shavkat (141905)
• Philippines
24 Feb 22
I usually kill them with pesticides.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
24 Feb 22
It worked for now.
1 person likes this
@Shavkat (141905)
• Philippines
25 Feb 22
@CarolDM Yes, it is
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (135744)
• Marion, Ohio
24 Feb 22
I wouldnt want those around
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
24 Feb 22
They are gone for now.
1 person likes this
@Dena91 (17039)
• United States
24 Feb 22
I don't like fire ants either. I haven't ever been bitten by any which I am thankful for since I mow yard from spring to fall. I am glad you got yours taken care of now.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
24 Feb 22
The bites are no fun. Thanks me too.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130150)
• Israel
24 Feb 22
@CarolDM So glad you got rid of them. It sounds like they are dangerous to have around. I am not sure I have seen them before. I have seen the little ones.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130150)
• Israel
25 Feb 22
@CarolDM I bet they can be.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
24 Feb 22
Yes they can be when they bite you.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222302)
• United States
24 Feb 22
I didn't realize that the fire ants were so far north. Sorry that you had a bad experience with them.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
24 Feb 22
I see them every year in the backyard. The bites were really bad as a child.
1 person likes this
@Faster16 (3248)
• Indonesia
24 Feb 22
I was once bitten by a fire ant, oh my goodness, the pain is excruciating
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
25 Feb 22
I know the pain.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (98005)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 Feb 22
Fire ants are dangerous I am glad you got red of them,
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
24 Feb 22
Thanks I am too.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382068)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Feb 22
The authorities are trying really hard to keep fire ants out of Australia. They say they could be devastating in many ways.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
24 Feb 22
The hot weather doesn't help I am sure.
1 person likes this
@Kandae11 (57231)
23 Feb 22
They look similar to what we call "red ants". They do have a nasty sting.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
23 Feb 22
Yes they are the same.
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
23 Feb 22
Fire ants aren't as common around here as they were when I lived in Alabama, and Texas before that. Evil, nasty little beasties!
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
23 Feb 22
They are pests for sure.
1 person likes this