Fire ant mounds in Houston seem to multiply overnight after every rain, and treating individual mounds one at a time is an exercise in frustration. The reason: fire ant colonies relocate when disturbed. Treating one mound does not kill the queen — she moves her colony to a new location through underground tunnels.
Why Individual Mound Treatment Fails
When you treat a single fire ant mound with a contact insecticide, the workers and queen in that mound die. However, fire ant colonies in Houston operate as supercolonies connected by underground tunnels. When one mound is treated, surviving colony members regroup in a new location and re-establish. This is why your yard seems to have the same number of mounds no matter how many you treat.
The Broadcast Bait Solution
Broadcast bait treatment uses granular bait containing a slow-acting insect growth regulator. Foraging ants carry the bait back to all connected colonies. Because the IGR prevents the queen from producing workers, the entire supercolony declines over 8–12 weeks. Broadcast bait requires only two applications per year (spring and fall) for year-round control.
Professional Treatment for Stubborn Infestations
For Houston properties with heavy fire ant pressure — especially sandy loam soil areas and properties near greenbelts — professional broadcast application ensures even coverage at the correct rate. Licensed applicators have access to professional-grade baits not available at retail.