Fire Ant (2026)
Lawns, beds, people/pets
Quick answer: Fire Ant attacks lawns, beds, people/pets. Start with the organic/IPM steps below; use the chemical option only if damage escalates, and always follow the product label. Two-step bait program in spring and fall; keep lawn healthy.
Your Fire Ant IPM card
Select your state to see whether this pest is common there, then print.
Fire Ant in Alabama: Listed among the most-reported pests in your state — watch for it.
Fire Ant
Targets
Lawns, beds, people/pets
Signs
Mounded nests; painful sting.
Organic / IPM first
Broadcast beneficial nematodes; boiling water (small mounds); diatomaceous earth.
Chemical option (follow label)
Bait containing spinosad or hydramethylnon; treat entire yard.
Prevention
Two-step bait program in spring and fall; keep lawn healthy.
Fire Ant by host plant
Host-specific signs and control — see the full pest × host reference.
More pests
Treatments follow integrated pest management (IPM): identify first, least-toxic fix second. Product specifics and labels vary by state — confirm with your county extension.