When should fire ant mounds be treated during the spring and fall?

Treating fire ant mounds in the afternoon is considered optimal for several reasons. During the afternoon, particularly when temperatures are at their peak, fire ants are more actively foraging and exposed on the surface of their mounds. This increased activity allows for greater contact with the treatment product applied, ensuring that the pesticide effectively reaches more ants.

Application in the morning may not be as effective because ants are often less active during this time as they are adjusting to the warming temperature. While treatments around noon can still work, it is often the later afternoon that combines warm temperatures with heightened ant activity. Late evening treatments can be less effective due to reduced activity levels as ants may retreat into their mounds, thereby limiting exposure to the treatment.

Thus, treating in the afternoon enhances the likelihood of effectively controlling the fire ant population by maximizing the chances of contact with the active ingredient when fire ants are more active.