Pest Library · West Texas
Fire Ants in West Texas
Fire ant mounds pop up overnight after a Basin thunderstorm. Step on one and you'll know it fast. Here is what you are dealing with and how to fight back.
Quick answer
The red imported fire ant is a small reddish brown ant that builds soft dirt mounds in sunny yards. Workers grab skin with their jaws and sting again and again. Stings burn, then form a white pustule within about a day. Texas A&M recommends a two step plan: spread bait across the yard, then treat problem mounds.
How to Identify Them
The red imported fire ant came to the United States from South America and has spread across much of Texas. Look for:
- Small reddish brown workers of mixed sizes in the same mound
- Mounds of loose, fluffy soil with no opening on top
- Mounds in sunny, open spots like lawns, fields and along sidewalks
- Ants that pour out and run up grass blades when the mound is disturbed
Texas A&M's fire ant project notes that few native ants charge up vertical surfaces like that. If dozens to hundreds of ants climb your shoe within seconds, you are likely looking at fire ants.
How They Behave
Each mound holds thousands of ants. Under the soil, tunnels spread out well past the mound itself. When rain soaks the ground, the colony pushes up new soil, which is why fresh mounds seem to appear after storms in May and August in Odessa.
They also come inside. Fire ants follow foundation cracks, pipe gaps and wall outlets into homes, especially in hot, dry spells when they hunt for water. Read how to get rid of fire ants in the house if they have moved indoors.
Fire Ant Bites and Stings
People often call them fire ant bites, but the pain comes from the sting. The ant bites to hold on, then stings with its back end, often many times in a circle.
Texas A&M says the spot burns for a few minutes, then turns red and swells into a bump within about 20 minutes. Within several hours to a day, most people get a white, fluid filled pustule. Only fire ant venom causes that kind of pustule in Texas.
What to do:
- Brush ants off fast. Ants removed before they sting can't inject venom.
- Wash the area with soap and water.
- Use ice or a cold pack to ease burning and itching.
- Don't pop or scratch the pustules. Broken skin can get infected.
A fire ant sting can be serious for some people. Get emergency help right away for chest pain, nausea, heavy sweating, trouble breathing, serious swelling or slurred speech. Kids, older adults and pets are at higher risk when they can't move away from a mound.
Prevention and Treatment
Texas A&M AgriLife's Two Step Method is the backbone of good fire ant control:
- Broadcast bait
Spread fire ant bait over the whole yard. Workers carry it to the queen. AgriLife says baits can take weeks to months but give 80 to 90 percent control.
- Treat problem mounds
Mounds by doors, play areas and walkways get a faster mound treatment while the bait works.
A few timing tips from AgriLife: bait works best on dry ground with no rain expected for a day or two, and late August to mid October is a strong time for fall baiting. In summer, apply in the cooler evening when ants are out looking for food.
Pouring boiling water on a mound is a poor fix. AgriLife says it kills the colony only about 60 percent of the time and can burn you and your lawn. For a full plan, see ant control.
Fire Ant FAQs
Why do fire ant bites turn into white bumps?
The white bump is a sterile pustule caused by the venom, which kills a small patch of skin cells. Texas A&M says it forms within several hours to a day and dries up over a few weeks. Leave it alone, since breaking it open can let bacteria in.
When is a fire ant sting an emergency?
Get help right away for chest pain, nausea, heavy sweating, trouble breathing, serious swelling or slurred speech. Those can be signs of a severe allergic reaction. People who have had a strong reaction before should talk to an allergist about how to protect themselves.
Why do new mounds show up after rain?
The colony was already there. Wet soil is easy to move, so ants push up new dirt and the mound becomes visible. That is why broadcast bait helps. It reaches colonies you can't see yet, not just the mounds that popped up after the storm.
Does boiling water kill fire ants?
Sometimes, but not reliably. AgriLife says boiling water kills the colony only about 60 percent of the time. It can also scald you and kill grass. Bait carried back to the queen is a safer and more complete fix for most yards.
Same Day Service Available
Get Help With Fire Ants
Mounds taking over the yard? Request a free inspection. Your technician will set up a bait plan that fits West Texas weather.
Odessa Pest Control connects you with a local pest control technician. Ask for their Texas license number before work starts.
Pest Library
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Sources
- Texas A&M Imported Fire Ant Research and Management Project, Medical Information: https://fireant.tamu.edu/manage/medical-information/
- Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Medical Problems and Treatment Considerations for the Red Imported Fire Ant: https://research.entomology.tamu.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2011/12/FAPFS023_2002rev_Medical.pdf
- Texas A&M Imported Fire Ant Project, How Can I Tell If I Have Fire Ants: https://fireant.tamu.edu/manage/how-can-i-tell-if-i-have-fire-ants/
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Fire Ant Two Step Method: https://fireant.tamu.edu/controlmethods/twostep/