Fire ants are a painful nuisance, but don’t worry. Boric acid is a safe and effective way to get rid of these pesky bugs.
It’s easy to use boric acid against fire ants, but you might have questions about how often you should reapply it—and whether there are any other options out there that could be better for your lawn.
Keep reading to find out all about this wonderful weapon in your anti-ant arsenal!
| Key Takeaways |
|---|
| Using boric acid can be an effective and natural way to eliminate fire ants from your yard. |
| Boric acid can disrupt the fire ant’s metabolism and lead to dehydration and death. |
| It is important to use boric acid safely and to follow proper application and dosage guidelines. |
| Borax can also be used to control fire ants in your lawn. |
| Other natural methods of fire ant control include using diatomaceous earth or planting certain plants. |
What Are Fire Ants?
Fire ants are a type of stinging ant that can swarm in large numbers, and they’re also known as red ants. They’re native to the southern United States, but have been introduced all over the world by humans.
So what do fire ants look like? Fire ants are small (about 1/8 inch) and reddish-brown in color. A good way to tell if you have a fire ant infestation is to look for their mounds or hills around your yard.
Their nests look like raised hills about 3 inches high with an opening on one side that leads down into the nest where there are usually multiple chambers for storing food and eggs.
Are fire ants wreaking havoc on your yard? Take a natural and effective approach with our guide on using Boric Acid to eliminate fire ants
Where Can I Find Boric Acid?
Boric acid is a naturally occurring mineral that can be found in many stores that sell chemicals or gardening supplies. It also comes in powder form and can be used to kill fire ants and other Pests.
| Store | Location | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Walmart | Online/In-Store | $3.88 – $10.98 |
| Lowe’s | In-Store | $3.48 – $15.98 |
| Home Depot | Online/In-Store | $4.46 – $12.98 |
| Amazon | Online | $7.97 – $18.99 |
| Target | In-Store | $4.39 – $9.49 |
How To Kill Fire Ants With Boric Acid Safely
Boric acid is a safe insecticide when used correctly, but there are a few things to keep in mind.
First and foremost, never use boric acid on children or pets. It is fine for adults, but it can be harmful if ingested by small children or animals.
Additionally, you should avoid using it near food and plants—both would be harmed by the chemical compound. Finally, don’t spray boric acid directly into the air above swimming pools or other bodies of water; this could cause inhalation problems due to vaporization into fine particles that may be inhaled unintentionally.
When To Apply Boric Acid Against Fire Ants
The best time to apply boric acid against fire ants is when the ants are active. You can check this by observing trails or piles of debris (such as dead ants) in areas where they tend to be most active.
Fire ant activity is generally highest during the spring and summer, but they will also be active during autumn as well as winter months in warmer climates. If possible, try to apply boric acid in the evening or early morning when worker ants are foraging for food and carrying it back to their nests.
This will ensure that you get maximum exposure without risking a rain shower washing away your efforts—and remember: reapply every 2-3 weeks at first; after one month, wait until two months have passed before reapplying again.
From application tips to safety precautions, our comprehensive guide on using Boric Acid to eliminate fire ants has everything you need to know to take back control of your lawn.
Will Boric Acid Hurt My Dogs If They Eat It?
Boric acid is not toxic to dogs, cats, birds and other animals. In fact, boric acid is used by veterinarians as a treatment for external parasites in pets. It can be safely applied on a pet’s skin as a spot-on flea control product or injected into the ear canal of a cat with ear mites.
Boric acid powder is not harmful if ingested by people or pets (except cockroaches). All it takes is one teaspoon of boric acid powder to kill 100 cockroaches and most roaches will avoid it because they sense its bitter taste and stickiness when they walk across it!
So if your dog does accidentally eat some boric acid powder off the floor or you get some on your hands after applying it directly onto roach nests with an insecticidal duster (see below), just wash your dog’s mouth out immediately with soap and water and call your vet if there are any symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea or difficulty breathing; but don’t panic! Most likely nothing bad will happen and everything will go back to normal after about 24 hours…
Will Boric Acid Hurt My Plants?
Boric acid is not toxic to humans, animals, birds or bees. Boric acid is an insecticide that kills insects by interfering with their ability to breathe and digest food. It does not kill plants or soil and can be used safely around edible plants in the garden.
If you are worried about using boric acid near your vegetable garden, there are other options available as well.
You may want to consider purchasing some of our organic ant killers if you’re worried about harming your edible plants or vegetables!
Can I Use Boric Acid On Fire Ant Mounds In My Garden?
In addition to using boric acid with fire ants in your yard and other places, you can also use it on mounds in your garden.
Boric acid is safe for use on ant mounds because it’s a natural product that won’t harm the environment or any plants nearby.
One of the best things about using boric acid to control fire ants is that it only kills them when they take it back to their nest—if they stay out in the open, they won’t be affected at all!
To apply boric acid to an ant mound, simply sprinkle some on each side of the mound so that it reaches down into the tunnels where they live.
The best way not just how much but also how often you should apply this substance depends on whether or not you have seen any signs of activity yet; if there’s no activity yet then just keep applying every two weeks until signs show up again (or until springtime).
Looking for an eco-friendly way to rid your lawn of pesky fire ants? Learn how to use Borax to naturally eliminate fire ants from your lawn with our step-by-step guide
If A Mound Is Close To A Building, Should I Still Use Boric Acid?
If a mound is close to a building, you should still treat it with boric acid—but the product needs to be applied in different ways.
You can apply boric acid directly on a mound, but this will only kill ants and not get rid of their colony.
You’ll need to treat the ground around the ant mounds as well for best results; this will help prevent new colonies from forming and keep existing ones away from your property lines.
You should also repeat applications every six months or so in late fall or early spring when there are no leaves on trees yet (this helps prevent rainwater from washing away your mixture).
How Often Should I Reapply Boric Acid To Get Rid Of Fire Ants?
Boric acid is a slow, long-term solution to fire ant problems. It can take several weeks for the boric acid to work, depending on the size of your fire ant problem.
To be sure that you are seeing results from using boric acid, watch for signs of dead or dying fire ants (see below). If you don’t see any improvement after a few weeks, it may be time to reapply more bait.
Make sure your using Boric Acid as effectively as possible with our helpful tips on using Boric Acid to get rid of fire ants, including proper application and dosage recommendations
Is There Anything Else I Can Do To Protect My Lawn From Ants?
If you have a very large area to protect, or if you have a lot of ants that need killing, consider hiring a professional exterminator.
Ants can quickly overrun your lawn and make it uninhabitable for other insects, including bees and butterflies! If you are only dealing with one or two colonies, however, there are some things you can do yourself at home.
If you want to get rid of all the ants in your yard without using harmful chemicals that may harm children and pets (and after trying to keep them out naturally), set up bait traps around your house.
These traps use sugar as bait and can be purchased at most garden centers. To use them: place some sugar crystals on top of the trap; wait for an ant colony to discover this new food source; then pour boiling water over the entire thing (including the sugar). This will kill off all the ants within 24 hours or longer if they’re really stubborn!
Another option if there aren’t many ants but still too much activity is spraying boric acid around pathways where they enter/leave homes through cracks under doors etcetera…
Conclusion
The best way to protect your yard from fire ants is by using boric acid. It’s environmentally safe, inexpensive and effective at killing fire ants.
It can also be applied to mounds where you can see the insects coming out of their holes. Boric acid is not toxic to humans or pets unless it’s ingested by them, so there’s no need for concern when applying this product outside!
Don’t let a fire ant infestation ruin your summer. Learn how Boric Acid can save the day and keep your yard pest-free with our guide on the benefits of this natural solution
Further Reading
For more information on getting rid of fire ants using natural methods, check out the following resources:
Caland Landscape’s guide on getting rid of fire ants in your lawn and garden. This article provides tips on preventing fire ant infestations and controlling them using natural methods.
Sustainable Fire Ant Control is a resource from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences that discusses methods for controlling fire ants without harming the environment.
Thwarting Ants using Boric Acid-Based Bait is a guide from Espace pour la vie, a science museum in Montreal, that explores the science behind boric acid and how to use it safely and effectively to control ant populations.
FAQs
What is Boric Acid?
Boric acid is a white, crystalline compound that is often used as an insecticide. It is derived from boron, a naturally occurring element.
How does Boric Acid kill fire ants?
When fire ants come into contact with boric acid, they carry it back to their colonies on their bodies, contaminating the other ants and the queen. Boric acid disrupts the ants’ metabolism and causes dehydration, ultimately killing them.
Is Boric Acid safe for pets and humans?
While boric acid is generally considered safe, it can be toxic if ingested in large quantities. It is important to follow safety guidelines when using boric acid and to keep it out of reach of pets and children.
How long does it take for Boric Acid to kill fire ants?
The length of time it takes for boric acid to kill fire ants can vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the colony and the dosage used. In some cases, it may take up to two weeks to see results.
Can Boric Acid be used indoors to control ants?
Yes, boric acid can be used indoors to control ant populations. It is important to use caution when applying boric acid, as it can be harmful if ingested or inhaled. It is also important to keep it away from children and pets.
Hello! I’m Hellen James, and I write about how to keep pests from invading your home. For the last 10 years, I’ve been working in pest control and am excited to share my expertise with you!
