Each spring, at the Extension Office, there is an increase in ant calls and questions.

Usually most questions center around control methods for red imported fire ants or leaf-cutting ants in the home lawn and landscape.

However, the red harvester ant has been the center of most questions asked this spring.

These ants can certainly ruin the landscape where they establish their colony.

Ants will eliminate vegetation in a three to six foot radius around the colony and this results in large areas of turf being damaged if control measures are not taken.

Harvester ants are not as common today as they were during the early 1900s and seeing an increase in Red harvester ant activity is really a good thing.

These ants serve as a major source of food for the threatened Texas horned lizard and an increase in ant numbers means a larger source of food for the “horny toad.”

However, the fact remains that colonies in ornamental turf areas are highly undesirable and require treatment.

New colonies are established after the reproductives mate after spring, summer and fall showers.

Therefore, the recent showers may lead to an increase in harvester ant activity.

Following mating, the queen ant digs a burrow and begins laying eggs. Larvae hatch from eggs and develop through several stages.

Larvae are white and legless, shaped like a crookneck squash with small distinct head.

Pupation occurs within a cocoon. Worker ants produced by the queen ant begin caring for other developing ants, enlarge the nest and scavenge for food.

Red harvester ants are foragers that collect seeds and dead insects. Their mouthparts are designed for chewing but they can deliver a painful, stinging bite.

However, they are reluctant to attack.

There are very few products that are specifically registered for Red harvester ant control.

Therefore, any insecticide registered for ant control can be used to control Red harvester ants.

Landscape settings products containing acephate have proved successful.

Acephate dust products can be applied as a dry application or as a liquid drench.

If applied as a liquid the key to successful control is to drench the mound plus a 4-foot diameter circle around the nest.

As always when using an insecticide carefully follow the instructions on the product label.

Remember the Red harvester ant is a favorite food for the Texas horned lizard so treatment should be limited to colonies in the home landscape.