Two-step way to getting fire ants under control

LSU AgCenter entomologist Aaron Ashbrook observes an ant mound at the AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden in Baton Rouge.
LSU AgCenter entomologist Aaron Ashbrook observes an ant mound at the AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden in Baton Rouge.

Spring is near in Louisiana. The birds are singing, and flowers are beginning to blossom in our landscapes.

It’s a great time to be outdoors. Watch your step, though, or you might become a victim of another sign of the changing seasons: fire ants.

As temperatures warm, fire ants become more active. By now, you’ve likely seen their mounds popping up in your yard — and perhaps have even gotten stung. …