The 10 Best Fire Ant Killers
This wiki has been updated 23 times since it was first published in April of 2018. There are few things more annoying to find in your lawn than a fire ant mound. These tiny monsters can inflict some serious pain and can be a hassle to get rid of — but not if you have one of the fire ant killers on this list. They utilize a variety of pesticides, so make sure you follow all the directions precisely and keep kids and pets away unless and until the instructions say it is safe. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Advion Bait
2. Bifen I/T
3. Ortho Orthene
Editor's Notes
May 22, 2020:
Fire ants aren't just notorious for their painful bite and sting, but also for how hard they are to eradicate. Luckily, the various insecticides on this list have been shown to be effective at killing fire ants, and are designed to eradicate the entire colony, so the queen doesn't just move 5 or 10 feet away and start a new mound. Whichever option you choose, it is vital that you follow all of the manufacturer's guidelines on safe use, and never apply them around kids or pets.
If you need to treat an entire lawn because you fear there may be many mounds you can't see, or you simply want to take preventative action, you should look to a granule option like Over 'N Out Advanced, Ortho Broadcast Granules, and Terro T901-6. These can be easily and evenly dispersed across your property in a broadcast spreader, though Terro T901-6 does come in its own shaker bag, which can be convenient for anyone who doesn't currently own one. Both Over 'N Out Advanced and Ortho Broadcast Granules are designed to last for six months, so if you apply them once in early spring and once in late summer, your property should stay fire ant-free all year round.
Of all the options we have included on our list this time, only Bifen I/T can also be used indoors, so if you are fighting pests on both fronts, inside your home and on your lawn, and you only want to purchase one insecticide, this is a good option. It is a concentrated liquid though, so you'll have to mix it with water, and it is best applied with a backpack or pump sprayer.
If you would rather just spot treat mounds than cover your entire lawn with an insecticide, you'll want to consider Ortho Orthene, BioAdvanced Dust, Amdro Bait, Spectracide Mound Destroyer, and Martin's Control Solutions Surrender. All start working quickly, but few more so than Spectracide Mound Destroyer thanks to a special accelerator.
Advion Bait is one of our most highly recommended options because it is equally suited for spot treating mounds as for broadcast use, however, it is rather pricey. That being said, it kills ants in every life stage, including larvae, so it is very effective.
Special Honors
Zoecon ProBait If you are dealing with a particularly aggressive species or colony of fire ants, you may need to turn to Zoecon ProBait, which is used by many commercial pest control companies. It makes use of Hydramethylnon, which is a slow-acting poison that disrupts energy production in the cells of many insects. zoecon.com
4. Over 'N Out Advanced
5. BioAdvanced Dust
6. Spectracide Mound Destroyer
7. Ortho Broadcast Granules
8. Terro T901-6
9. Amdro Bait
10. Martin's Control Solutions Surrender
A wandering writer who spends as much time on the road as in front of a laptop screen, Brett can either be found hacking away furiously at the keyboard or, perhaps, enjoying a whiskey and coke on some exotic beach, sometimes both simultaneously, usually with a four-legged companion by his side. He has been a professional chef, a dog trainer, and a travel correspondent for a well-known Southeast Asian guidebook. He also holds a business degree and has spent more time than he cares to admit in boring office jobs. He has an odd obsession for playing with the latest gadgets and working on motorcycles and old Jeeps. His expertise, honed over years of experience, is in the areas of computers, electronics, travel gear, pet products, and kitchen, office and automotive equipment.