Fire Ants are in our area. Pictures here show what the mounds may look like. If you suspect a mound is fire ants, carefully poke the mound with a stick. If they come “boiling out” very aggressively, you probably have fire ants.
Until the end of May, you may contact Sofia Alcaine, Plant Protection Inspector, Office of Plant Industry Services, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services at (804) 461-0818 to report fire ant infestation and the county will treat the mound. Beginning in June, if you find a mound, you will need to treat it or hire a company to treat the mound.
It’s important to understand that you need to use a bait product so that the pesticide is taken back to the queen. That is the only way to truly destroy the ant mound. Also, the mounds can have multiple queens so if all are not destroyed, they will just move and establish a new mound.
The bait products are sold at a variety of stores and on-line. Look for baits that are specifically for fire ants.
The stings of fire ants are very painful to people and pets. Fire ant stings initially cause in-tense burning and pain, followed by itching and the development of red, raised welts or blisters. These symptoms typically last for a few days, with some cases lasting up to a week. While most reactions are mild, severe allergic reactions can occur, requiring immediate medical attention.