Often when contact insecticides like Orthene and Diazinon are used you do not kill the queen, but the disturbance is sufficient that the colony moves. The two most common organic methods to treat fire ants are the use of hot water or steam and diatomaceous earth. Both have been found to be somewhat effective in controlling ants when used properly. These methods only impact the ants that come in contact with the hot water or diatomaceous earth. Fire ants as a group cannot drown.
Fire ants can form balls on the water and float to new locations after a flood.
Fire ants have been shown to decrease some pest insect numbers. Cotton growers in Texas and sugarcane growers in Louisiana appreciate the predatory nature of the ant. Also, tick presence may be decreased in pastures infested with fire ants.