Tiny Fire Ants

Little Fire Ants have been detected in all districts on the Big Island. They can easily travel hidden under automobiles or float on water and are spreading rapidly since a single ant can lay hundreds of eggs regularly. So if you find even one ant you will need to start protecting your property quickly and regularly. There are at least two types of fire ants, large and small. The large fire ants (sometimes called Texas fire ants) is what most fire ant products on the market are made for and may not be effective for the Tiny Fire Ant, which is the one we have in Hawaii. Tiny fire ants are so small that an entire colony can live under a mac nut shell.  Schools in Hawaii use a Borax spray monthly because it is relatively non-toxic.  Borax is a powder used as a laundry detergent booster and Multi-Purpose Household Cleaner. 20 Mule Team Borax is available at Walmart or Amazon at about $5 for a 4 pound box. It is mixed with sugar to attract the ants. In the home use 3 parts powdered sugar with 1 part Borax and mix well and store in an air tight container. Put a little in empty sardine tins or bottle lids and slide under furniture or appliances where pets can't go. For outdoor use you can use a 1 or 2 gallon garden sprayer. Dissolve 3 cups of  Granulated sugar in a quart of hot water and add 1 cup Borax powder and stir until dissolved. Fill the sprayer about half full with tap water, then add the dissolved mixture and stir well. Spray this around the property and foundations. But if you spray on light colored paint it will encourage dark colored bacteria stains. You may need to spray every two weeks until the ant population diminishes, then monthly, as they will probably have infested adjoining properties. If you are stung by a fire ant you have actually been injected with a small amount of formic acid which can be quite painful and may even cause a blister. If you get stung, rub with a bar of soap, then wash the area ASAP, pat dry and apply vinegar. After a few minutes repeat. Or simply apply Gold Bond Anti-itch lotion, which is the quick and easy treatment.  If fire ants get on your pets the stings can cause blindness. Indoors you might use Diatomaceous earth which is non-toxic. TERRO has a product called ANT DUST that works well. 16 ounces sells for under $10 at Garden Exchange. Use it sparingly indoors. You might use smallish plastic bottles or containers with secure caps. Drill a few small holes to keep pets out and add a dab of peanut butter as an attractant.  Fire ants in Hawaii Hawaii Invasive Species Council | Little Fire Ant Search Results