Since I worked in the pest control industry for several years, I have acquired quite a bit of knowledge in the area of entomology. Here in Texas, one of our main nuisances is the fire ant. So much so that my neighbor has a sign in her yard that says, ”Beware, This Property Protected by Fire Ants!”.. I thought that was kind of cute but in a way, it can become somewhat of a truth if you don’t keep them under control.

I have just bought some new property and am starting my yard from scratch. Apart from a couple of trees and two flowerbeds, my yard is bare. I don’t think the fire ants here took kindly to the human invasion of their property. They have attacked each of the marker sticks my surveyor left for me with a vengeance and made a statement by creating huge termite size mounds in my front yard. I have even been bitten maliciously by a couple of vagrants inside my house. This was not defensive protection of their queen. THIS WAS OUTRIGHT WAR!

The key to preventing fire ants is to broadcast but I had to take care of those huge mounds first. To spray these little varmints is only an invitation for them to move house so I recommend granular bait and this is why:


The Product:

Why Spectracide? I like Spectracide products. They have not let me down yet. This granular bait treats the mound and is also effective in broadcasting, a two-in-one product. Most important, it kills the queen. So I bought a 7lb bag of Spectracide Fire Ant Mound Destroyer and Broadcast Granules from my local Lowes for $10.95. They were actually on a slat on sale. Another thing I like about Spectracide is their less than outrageous prices.

The active ingredient in this product is lambda-cyhalothrin, a synthetic pyrethroid that, according to the EPA, is of moderate toxicity. This product should not be applied directly to water.


How it works:

Fire ants do not eat solid food so why are we using granules? They take the granules into the mound to larvae that is about to hatch. Those larvae secrete an enzyme that turns the granule into liquid. The ants then feed on this liquid passing it from ant to ant by a process called tropholaxis. The outcome tells the queen whether it is safe to eat or not, and please note that as long as there is a queen, there will be live fire ants. This granule, however, takes a lot longer than other matter to dissolve, tricking the queen into eating it. It attacks the nervous system, therefore killing her and the pesky critters that are shacking up with her too. Hope you enjoyed the benefit of my education.


Spectracide’s Claim:

Spectracide Fire Ant Mound Destroyer granules are formulated to provide effective control of fire ants within 24 hours.
· Fast acting & effective… Kills the queen and colony in 24 hours.
· Easy to use… Sprinkle granules on or around mound and water gently according to package directions.
· Easy to apply… Can also be used with a broadcast spreader for large areas.
· Convenient… No-odor, resealable poly bag.


My Experience:

You know, I usually don’t mess with anybody unless they mess with me and these fire ants were out to kill. They had invaded my house and now it was time to defend my castle. This product is easy to apply. I got my rubber gloves on, filled up my watering can and approached the first mound. I sprinkled the product on and around the mound and gently watered it. Oh, yeah, they were mad all right, instantly teeming, gnashing their sharp mandibles. I continued on to the other mounds and did the same being careful of counter-attack. Then I waited for a while before broadcasting the rest of the yard.

In the morning, I went back out on the battlefield to see the extent of casualties. I saw nothing. I stamped on the ground around the mounds and several tired looking ants ventured out to protect their territory. By the next day, they were gone. The next week, I inspected the whole yard and found a few refugees heading out into the wild blue yonder but nothing near the numbers that teemed out of one mound a week ago. The battle was won and I continue to broadcast my yard once a month with this product.


Conclusion:

I have used Spectracide products before and have been pleased with the outcome. Spectracide Fire Ant Mound Destroyer and Broadcast Granules did not let me down either. It obviously does kill the queen which is very important to destroying the nests.

The price is very competitive and it is similar to products used by pest control companies. So for now, the battlefield is clear and the enemy is banished to another land. Sorry, fire ants, you drew first blood.


For more information, go to: http://www.spectracide.com

Or call:1-800-917-5438.


Other garden products:

Hound Dog Garden Cultivator
Garden Claw Gold
Spectracide Grass and Weed Killer
Peters Professional All Purpose Plant Food



Thank you for reading.


Recommended: Yes