The Problem with Treating Just the Mound
When most homeowners see a fire ant mound, they pour something on it or spray it. The ants scatter, the mound disappears — and within a week or two, a new mound appears nearby. Why? Because you didn't kill the queen.
A fire ant colony can have one or multiple queens, and they live several feet underground, well away from the visible mound. Killing surface ants doesn't touch the queen — and as long as she's alive, the colony survives and relocates.
What Actually Works
- Broadcast bait treatment — Workers carry bait back to the queen as food. This is the most effective long-term approach for your whole yard because it targets the colony at the source.
- Mound drench — Applied directly to individual mounds using professional-grade insecticide that penetrates deep enough to reach the queen chamber.
- Two-step method — Broadcast bait first, then drench problem mounds. This is the gold standard for large Lampasas County properties and gives the fastest, longest-lasting results.
When Is the Best Time to Treat?
Fire ants are most active and feeding aggressively in spring and fall when soil temperatures are between 65–90°F. Treating in extreme summer heat or winter cold is less effective because ants aren't actively foraging and won't carry bait back to the colony.
In Lampasas County, we recommend treating in March–April and again in September–October for the best year-round results.
Why Professional Treatment Beats DIY
Over-the-counter fire ant products are often repellent-based, which causes colonies to scatter and relocate rather than die. Professional broadcast baits use slow-acting active ingredients that worker ants don't recognize as harmful — so they carry them directly to the queen. The difference in results is significant, especially on larger properties where colonies can number in the millions.
How DSO Handles Fire Ants in Lampasas County
We use a broadcast treatment approach that targets your entire yard — not just visible mounds. This eliminates existing colonies and creates a barrier against new ones moving in from neighboring properties or open land. For rural Lometa and Kempner properties with larger lots, this approach is especially important.