Green Light (aka spinosad) is pretty safe for humans, but if you use it try to keep it away from ponds/streams/runoff (not usually an issue) and try not to apply it when bees are out because they respond very negatively to spinosad. It's less of an issue in this type of application (ant mounds) because it's going to be on the soil rather than the plant tissue/flowers.

HELP! I am desperate to find a way to get rid of the ants in my flower beds. They are small black/dk brown ants that prefer greasy foods over sweets. (Discovered when my daughter dropped a french fry in the kitchen and didn't pick it up.) They are in my flower beds. I have found them in two potted plants already this year (one of them a hibiscus). They were in my mailbox without dirt at one time after it had rained for a while. Luckily, they do not bite but they are walking around my house all the time and I'm concerned they will be a bigger problem when I bring my tropical plants back in the house in the fall. Does anyone know if these methods safe for houseplants and herbs?

Thanks to all who have responded, your expertise is much appreciated. I wanted to respond to several of the messages. DCHALL- Throughout the yard, there are areas (maybe not truly "patches") where it has just has not greened up yet and appears dead (this is interspersed with green grass stemming from the "runners"). I am not sure if I waited too long this season to begin watering and I am seeing drought damage, but for the most part, the yard is beginning to green. I have always mowed at a very high setting and I think I am watering correctly. I have an automated sprinkler system and all of the zones overlap. I water each zone once a week at between 30-35 minutes a zone. I understand that this is on the low side, but I make a conscious choice to try and conserve water as best I can without totally sacrificing the lawn (not just for environmental concerns, but to keep my utility bill under $300 a month). There have always been spots in the lawn that the St. Aug just fears to tread and is mostly just patches of weed. When we bought the home 2 1/2 years ago, the previous owners had several large dogs whom they did not pick up after....ever, and the lawn was in miserable shape. They did nothing in the way of lawn care except an occasional mow and it has taken me this long to get it into some reasonable shape. That being said, one side of our lawn (our home divides the yard) has never really been more than a weed desert (this is also where most of the fire ants are situated). Another patch is where chinch bugs got a start before I could identify and get to them (it is my understanding that this area will never recover, but it is small). I am familiar with the Green Light product and was actually leaning toward this. Thanks! BTW Mr. Hall, I very much enjoyed your member page! KIMMSR- Thank you for the very informative site. I have seen your posts on other forums and you always provide very well researched and thought out responses.

Check at lowes or other places for Green Light fire ant granule bait with spinosad. It is about $13 a bag here, and it is organic, and pretty effective.