How to Get Rid of Harvester Ants

Difficulties Treating Infestations Yourself

Because harvester ants build mounds that make infestation sites of these pests highly visible, some homeowners feel comfortable with recognizing where harvester ant mounds exist on their properties and steering clear of them. However, harvester ant stings can prove fatal to young children or pets that may wander onto your property.

In a commercial setting, business owners should contact a professional pest control company such as Florida bug control to eradicate harvester ant nests. They should consider this a preventive measure to incurring legal issues associated with harvester ant stings and to improve the physical appearance of commercial properties.

Dealing With Harvester Ants Safely

Before doing anything, think about where the nest is. Florida harvester ants are native, rarely sting unless disturbed, and their seed collecting is part of how sandy habitats work. A nest at the back of a large lot may be fine to leave alone. A nest beside a play area, dog run or front walk is a different story.

Steps homeowners can take:

• Flag or fence off active nests so children, pets and mowers stay clear.
• Wear closed shoes and gloves when working in sandy beds and borders.
• Establish thick, healthy ground cover on bare sandy patches, which these ants tend to avoid.
• Walk the yard every few weeks in warm weather to spot new openings while colonies are still small.

Mistakes to avoid:

• Digging, raking or flooding the nest. Harvester nests run several feet deep with the queen far below, so this mostly provokes stings.
• Pouring gasoline, bleach or other household chemicals into the hole. It is dangerous, contaminates soil and groundwater, and often fails anyway.
• Guessing at the species. Harvester ants and fire ants live differently, so confirm which one you have before choosing an approach.

What a professional treatment looks like: confirming the species, locating every active nest on the property, a targeted treatment at each nest rather than a whole-yard application, and a follow-up check for remaining activity. Florida Bug Control is a family-owned company based in Madison, with no long-term contracts and free re-treatment if pests return between scheduled visits. See the harvester ant infestation page to recognize nests.