Effects of Peppermint Oil and Vinegar on killing and preventing the Red Imported Fire Ant, Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in households

Solenopsis invicta (fire ants) have only been present in the United States for about seventy- five years but have proven not only to cause annoyance but also cause fear within the human population. In an attempt to decrease some of this annoyance and fear, two different substances were tested for their effectiveness in terminating these fire ants. The fire ants were collected in College Station, Texas and the substances tested included peppermint oil and vinegar. After experimentation, it was found that the peppermint oil was overwhelmingly more effective than the vinegar, especially when the oil was present in very high concentrations