 If it is necessary to control a fire ant mound quickly, various contact insecticides can be used to treat individual mounds. At least a dozen active ingredients are sold under many trade names. Unlike baits, contact insecticides kill the ants on contact. Mounds can be treated individually by several methods, including drenching the mound, dusting material over the mound, or injecting the mound with an aerosol. Be sure to follow all instructions on the label. Some materials, including most of the granules, must be watered into the mound following the application. Treating mounds on cool sunny mornings when the ants are just under the top surface of the mound increases the effectiveness of the contact insecticide. The effectiveness of contact insecticides depends on whether the queen is affected by the treatment. If the queen or queens survive, the colony will recover as the queens reduce replacement workers. Individual mound treatments can get rid of ants quickly. However, such treatments are time consuming because each mound must be located and treated. If many mounds are treated, there is a risk of environmental contamination. In addition, colonies without a visible mound will be left untreated.