Just about the last insect you want on your property is a fire ant. These little bugs cause an awful burning sensation when they bite, and it feels like your skin is on fire. That’s where they get their name from. They don’t just attack people, though.
They can and will attack animals and plants, causing damage wherever they go. These are pests you want to get rid of fast. Don’t give them time to make a home on your property. Take action to eliminate them as soon as you realize you have an infestation.
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What to Consider Before Buying Fire Ant Killer Products
FireAnt.Tamu.Edu reveals that there isn’t a best way to get rid of fire ants every single time. You may have to experiment and see what works well for your environment.
Keep trying until something works- You may need to try out a few different products and methods before you find something that works. Even then, there is no guarantee that you will kill all the fire ants.
Use what is right for you- Some treatments are very labor intensive, and that may not be something you can handle, depending on your schedule, age or health. You should look for products that you will be able to use effectively and that are designed for the area you live in.
Buy something that can get where the ants are hiding- Some fire ant nests are inaccessible by normal means. If they are under your house or sidewalk, then you need a pest control treatment that can get in there and kill them without you having to dig everything up or crawl into a dangerous area.
Think of the pets and kids- You also need to consider your pets and kids and if the chemicals that the fire ant killer contains will be safe to use around them. Some pest killers contain very toxic chemicals that have to be cleaned up before you can let your pets or kids out into the treated area.
There are often environmental concerns as well that you need to be aware of, so you’ll want to look into the ingredient list on any product you plan to purchase to ensure that it meets your standards and that it is suitable for your situation.
Top 10 Best Rated Fire Ant Killers Reviewed
We are going to look at a number of different products you can use to treat fire ant infestations. We have provided a lengthy list since, as we said before, you never know for sure which method will work best in your circumstances.
Max Ant & Roach Killer
This one is far more economically priced compared to many other options. You get six spray bottles for half the price of a single Stormtrooper product. Max has a reputation for effective pesticides, and this one is no different. It does use harmful chemicals, so if you are worried about environmental impact or potential harm to pets and children, then you need to know what you are getting here.
Max’s ant and roach killer spray kills immediately, and it will last for several weeks.
Pros
- Kills quickly
- Tons of value for the price
- Lasts for a long time
Cons
- Uses harsh chemicals
Demise Fire Ant and Insect Killer
This product works by coating the insects and allowing them to carry the poison back to their nest. That way, you don’t have to spray the nest directly and you can get those hard-to-reach pests that are hidden away, just by spraying into their traffic areas.
It will work for as long as six months, so you don’t have to worry about reapplication after reapplication to get great results. It contains a powerful chemical that actually dehydrates insects on contact. You will want to to keep this away from your pets and children, and you may need to clean anything that the product touched before you allow your little ones out in the yard to play or before you release your pets.
Pros
- Works fast
- Lasts for a long time
- Easy to use
Cons
- Fairly expensive
Bugs R Done Fly, Cockroach and Ant Killer
This natural product is able to repel ants and other insects using the potent power of orange peels and other safe ingredients. That means that it is safe to use in food areas and around pets and children. You don’t have to worry about a huge cleanup afterwards, but you won’t have to look at anymore ants and other pests crawling around your house either.
It is very effective against a wide range of ants, but you can also use it to get rid of cockroaches, flies and more.
Pros
- Works on lots of insects
- Made with natural components
- Safe to use in all areas of the house
Cons
- Not always as effective as other bug sprays with toxic chemicals
Quest Specialty Stormtrooper Fire Ant Killer
The Stormtrooper foaming ant spray can get into all those places that are tough to reach. It sends out a permeating foam that burrows into ant nests and eliminates them quickly and effectively. The treatment lasts for weeks and kills all sorts of pests, and it can get into places that other ant killing sprays cannot.
However, the effectiveness of this product comes with a high price tag. You will pay more for this than pretty much anything else on the market, but you are paying for potency. It is potent enough that your pets and kids should be kept far away from it, but it doesn’t leave behind a cloud or bad smell that you will have to deal with.
Pros
- Works incredibly well
- Tunnels into ant nests and kills all the ants inside
- Works for weeks
Cons
- Super expensive
- Uses toxic chemicals
TERRO Ant Killer Plus
This is a spreadable ant deterrent and killer, so it may not be as easy to use as some the other insecticides we list here that come in spray bottles, but it is very effective. By spreading the powder on the ground, near or over a nest, you can coat the ants with poison and get them to carry that poison back to their nest.
It is designed to only be used outdoors, and it kills a lot of insects very quickly. It can be used as a perimeter treatment to keep insects away and to keep them from entering your house or property.
Pros
- Great as a perimeter defense
- Works very effectively against underground insects
- No chemical cloud to deal with
Cons
- Can create some dust and may not be easy for everyone to use
TERRO 600 1-Pound Ant Killer Dust
Terro offers a wide range of powder-based ant killer products. This one is designed to be waterproof, so even if you put it out right before it rains, it won’t wash away and lose its potency. You can expect results for weeks after putting it down, so you should only need to do about one treatment a month until the infestation is gone.
This kills a wide range of insects, including ants, cockroaches, crickets, ticks and silverfish. Best of all, you can use this either indoors or outdoors without having to do any major cleanup afterwards.
Pros
- Waterproof
- Kills on contact
- Kills many kinds of insects
Cons
- Fairly expensive
- Powdered format may be harder for some people to use
Cutter Backyard Bug Control Spray Concentrate
This inexpensive ant spray from Cutter is designed to be used in the yard. It will even stay put after a heavy rain and keep on getting rid of all kinds of bugs for you. While it is quite potent, you probably need to use it every couple of weeks to get consistently great results. You will often need to spray just about any pest control every couple of weeks, simply because there is a risk that the insecticide will dissipate after a while.
Pros
- Priced very competitively
- Won’t dissipate in the rain
- Kills a large variety of bugs
Cons
- May need to be used more frequently than instructions say
Quick Kill Lawn & Landscape Insect Killer Granules
This pest killer works very quickly, and it starts at the roots deep in the ground and works its way up, killing insects as it goes. Within 24 hours, most pests in your yard should be eliminated, with pests being repelled for weeks afterward.
Pros
- Takes care of bugs on the ground and underneath the ground
- Kills more than 50 types of bugs
- You get a lot of use from one bag
Cons
- Can only be used outside
- May be difficult for some people to use as it needs to be sprinkled evenly
Bayer Advanced 502790 Home Pest Control Indoor and Outdoor Insect Killer
Bayer’s product works as a natural barrier, repelling insects from your home or yard and killing those that are already there. It works very fast and kills most pests on contact. It also works longer than most other sprays and pest killers. In ideal situations, it can keep pests out for as long as a year, but your results may vary.
It also leaves behind no stains and has very little odor, so you and your pets should not mind the treatment. It is made to kill a wide range of pests and not just ants.
Pros
- Can work for up to a year after a single treatment
- Kills bugs fast
- Creates a barrier against new insects
- Will not stain
Cons
- Once you spray it, it stays there for a long time, leaving behind chemical traces
Spectracide Bug Stop Flying & Crawling Insect Killer2
With Spectracide, you always get powerful pesticides. The drawback is that once they are on your carpet, you are stuck with the chemical residue it leaves behind. It won’t stain or anything, but it does make the carpet less safe for kids and pets. Still, this is one of the better products to use to get rid of household pests, such as ants, spiders, roaches and more. It kills very fast and lasts for a long time.
Pros
- Low price, lots of value
- Kills bugs on contact
- Will not stain
Cons
- Can’t really be cleaned up since it leaves a residue. while this residue won’t stay, it may still be visible
Final Thoughts
As explained, when treating your home against fire ants, patience is key. Sometimes you will find the first product you buy to be effective, but in most cases, you will have to try out several of them before you find one that works well.
Since having fire ants around your house is not particularly pleasant, you should stick to applying your product of choice regularly, until you home is ant-free. Whichever product you use, be sure to read labeling carefully, and apply it according to instructions only.