Ant populations peak in midsummer and early fall. These ants build nests of loose mounds or craters near bases of trees and do not aggregate in colonies as large as those of the Argentine ant. They nest in topsoil or under rocks and debris and move in irregular patterns. In contrast to Argentine and fire ants, the native gray ant is solitary and its importance in disrupting biological control is often underestimated. As part of this relationship, they also protect these insects from their natural enemies, thus interrupting biological control of the honeydew-producing pests.
Fire ants feed on the twigs and bark of young trees, sometimes girdling the trees.
Sticky material should last from 2 to 10 months and will also prevent the access by Fuller rose beetles. If the sticky material contains tribasic copper sulfate, it will also control brown garden snails. The persistence of sticky material can be increased by applying it higher above the ground to reduce dust and dirt contamination and to decrease irrigation wash-off. Some concern has been expressed regarding the application of sticky polybutene materials directly to the trunk of citrus trees, especially if multiple applications are applied to the same area of the trunk. The sticky material can be applied on top of a tree wrap but this is both laborious and expensive.