Pest control referrals, Augusta, Georgia
Fire ant control in Augusta, Georgia
Soft mounds in sunny parts of the yard and ants that boil out when you bump one. Fire ants are found across Georgia and are a common reason for a call.
Call (706) 538-9714Calls answered: early morning to late evening
How to recognise fire ants
Red imported fire ants are reddish-brown workers of mixed sizes in one colony, from an eighth to three sixteenths of an inch. The mound is what most people notice. In sunny open ground it can reach 18 to 24 inches high.
Disturb a mound and workers come out fast and sting. The sting raises a blistering welt. Anyone who has had a strong reaction to a sting should take it seriously and talk to a doctor.
Sources: UGA Extension B1412, Circular 782 and Lincoln County Extension.
Why fire ants are all over the Augusta, Georgia area
UGA Extension in neighboring Lincoln County says fire ant hills are prevalent in almost every county in Georgia, in yards, pastures and along roads. UGA calls them the most common and troublesome ant in the Southeast. They are not native to the United States.
They favor sunny, disturbed ground: yards, playgrounds, parks and road edges. New construction and freshly graded lots suit them, so subdivisions in Grovetown and Evans can have them as easily as older yards in Augusta. An area can hold anywhere from dozens to hundreds of mounds per acre.
Sources: Lincoln County Extension and UGA Circular 782.
What a fire ant visit usually involves
Expect a walk around the property to count active mounds and look at where children and pets spend time. Common programs combine bait over the wider yard with treatment of individual mounds in busy spots.
Bait is slow on purpose, and it needs warm, dry ground. Mounds may show up again over time, so ask whether the plan is a single visit or repeat visits through the season, and ask how long to stay off treated areas.
When to call
Call if mounds are near play areas, doorways, air conditioning units or walkways, or if they keep coming back. Don't stir up a mound to see what's inside. UGA's guidance is never to disturb mounds before bait goes down.
Source: UGA Extension pest guide B1412.
Fire ants: common questions
When is the right time to deal with them?
UGA's baiting advice runs from spring through fall, and Lincoln County Extension suggests late spring or early summer and again in fall. Ask the company what timing makes sense for your yard.
Will one treatment get rid of them for good?
Don't count on it. Extension advice repeats treatment during the year, so ask whether your plan includes a return visit.
Can a company treat only the mounds near the house?
Ask. Lincoln County Extension says treating individual mounds works well when there are fewer than 20, though it takes more labor and monitoring.
Got pests right now? Make the call.
You'll be connected with an independent pest control company that serves your part of the Augusta, Georgia area. Have your ZIP code ready, and say what you've been seeing and where.
Call (706) 538-9714Calls answered: early morning to late evening
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