Gardening Tips: How to Control Ants in the Lawn
Sometimes we do everything right in caring for our lawns and still have trouble growing nice green grass. We can test our soil and apply lime and fertilizer at the appropriate rate, put down a pre-emergent herbicide to prevent crabgrass and other weeds, and put down insecticide to control grubs. Even still, we can find that our lawn is infected by something is simple and common as ants.
Ants belong to the same insect species as bees (Hymenoptera), and therefore operate under a similar division of labor. Ants live in colonies started by a single fertile female queen who builds a small nest and lays a few eggs. The queen raises a brood of female workers who gather food and build and repair the nest area. Male ants are only present in very large colonies and quickly die after mating with the queen.
Ant hills in lawns can indirectly wreak havoc on lawns. Ants do not feed directly on grass or other plants, but they do eat grass seeds, which prevent new stands of grass from establishing in lawns that have been recently reseeded. They also cause lawns to become water stressed due to the large amounts of underground tunnels they create, causing water to rapidly move down through the soil profile and away from grass roots. Ants primarily feed on small seeds, insects, sap, and honeydew (excreted by aphids that feed on plant roots). They can therefore harm the roots of grass by feeding on this honeydew, and will
also smother areas of grass where they have built nests.
Controlling ants can be accomplished through an application of a granular insecticide such as carbaryl (Sevin) or a product containing one of several pyrethroids. Pyrethroids are a class of synthetic compounds that includes such chemicals as bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, and lambda-cyhalothrin. Pyrethroid products are sold under trade names such as Bug-B-Gon, Talstar, and Bayer Advanced Multi-Insect Killer, among many others. Look for a product that specifically lists on of the above chemicals as the active ingredient and follow the label directions when applying.
Red Imported fire ants are a cause of worry for homeowners but as of yet there have not been any confirmed cases of fire ants in Halifax County. This is not to say that there are not or will not soon be fire ants in Halifax County, only that there presence is not confirmed by either NC Cooperative Extension or NCDA. Red imported fire ants tend to build much larger nests than the common ant found in many lawns and homes. A mound may be as much as 2 feet wide and 18 inches high, and contain over 100,000 ants. Red imported fire ants are worrisome due to the painful stings that they can inflict. Be careful to inspect plants and other landscape materials purchased from other parts of the state to avoid introducing these fire ants into your yard. If you believe you may have Red Imported fire ants in your yard, or are unsure how to differentiate these ants from southern fire ants, tropical fire ants, or common ants, you may contact the extension office.
On Saturday June 24th, the Roanoke Valley Farmers Market will be celebrating Dairy Month, by hosting Dairy Day at the market. Dairy products such as cheese, ice cream, milk, and dips will be highlighted and Cooperative Extension will offer cooking classes and free food samples. The Roanoke Valley Farmers Market is open on Rt. 158 in Roanoke Rapids every Saturday from 8 to 3, and in Halifax outside the Agricultural Center every Wednesday form 8 to 5.
Matthew Stevens is the horticulture extension agent for Halifax County Cooperative Extension. If you have any questions about this article or other aspects of your home gardening, please contact Matthew at 583-5161 or .