The Natural Solution That Keeps Fire Ants At Bay

Ants can be a real pesky problem in and around the home. Not only are they inconvenient visitors, but they also pose health and home problems if not eradicated right away. Fire ants in particular are nasty little buggers as they have stingers and inject venom when they sting. It's an unpleasant experience that causes pain, swelling, itchiness, and redness with the potential for more threatening health issues if you're particularly sensitive to their sting. As terrifying as this is, there's a natural solution that can help you keep fire ants at bay with diatomaceous earth (DE).

If you're interested in maintaining a natural environment in and around your home that's safe for you, your children, and your pets, DE is a perfect alternative to harmful chemical compounds like Terro, which is a harmful irritant. It's one of quite a few natural ways to get rid of ants without the use of poisons or harmful ingredients.

Diatomaceous earth is an environmentally-friendly, naturally occurring compound made of sedimentary rock, which contains the fossilized remains of what we know as diatoms. It's a finely crushed, white powdery substance akin to flour with many possible uses around your home and garden. The food grade version is a great option to rid your home of fire ants if you have children, pets, or food in proximity to the area being treated as it leaves no harmful residue on surfaces it's applied to. There are two other versions of DE – pool grade and feed grade – neither of which are recommended for insect removal.

Because DE is finely crushed fossils, it has sharp edges on a microscopic level. These sharp edges are the key to killing fire ants. It penetrates the ants' exoskeleton with tiny cuts, causing them to lose fluids and eventually dehydrate. Dehydration is the ultimate cause of their demise.

Since diatomaceous earth is a fine powdery substance, it's essential to reduce air movement in the areas you're targeting. Windy conditions can blow DE away and into areas you may not want it. Plus, you want to be sure you don't breathe it in or get it in your eyes. Using tools like a spoon, powder duster, or small garden shovel, gently sprinkle over the desired area, staying close to the surface so none of the powder floats and settles in other areas. You don't need to apply mounds of DE to kill fire ants — a light dusting will produce the desired effects on these tiny insects.

The key to diatomaceous earth is in its application in areas that you can maintain a low moisture level. Just like flour cakes up when it's wet, DE will cake and be rendered less useful in wet conditions as the abrasiveness is reduced. So, be sure to reapply after conditions where moisture is introduced to the area. For an added punch, using orange oil can help keep fire ants from re-entering your home. If possible, apply directly over ants as the efficacy of DE is based on direct contact with their exoskeletons.