Because of how much of a menace fire ants can be, most people think they’ve existed for centuries. But that’s not true; fire ants first made an appearance in 1918 in Mobile, Alabama. From there, the insects spread across the country, including Florida, South Carolina, and Texas.
So, if fire ants have made their way into your residential or commercial backyard, take swift action and consider hiring our fire ant yard treatment services. We specialize in eradicating a variety of pests, including fire ants. Our process is thorough and detailed, and we leave no stone unturned in doing an effective job.
Fire ants look quite similar to other ants, so you might mistake them for different species. Consequently, you won’t react to their presence. And by the time you do, it’ll be too late; they would’ve infested your house or office. That’s why you must know about the appearance of the ants.
Fire ants are red and black and, like other insects, have six legs joined by an exoskeleton. But the head of fire ants is copper brown, a trait through which you can distinguish fire ants from other species. As for size, they can grow up to 18 cm tall and 65 cm wide.
Since fire ants feed on dead insects and animals, you’ll likely see them in open areas, like lawns. If they’re present in a small number, it might be easier to tackle them. However, if your backyard consists of fire ant colonies, enlisting the help of AlienWerks Pest Management is better.
Spotting other pests is fairly simple; they leave obvious signs around your property, alerting you of their presence. But when it comes to a red ant infestation, it can be tough unless you look for specific signs:
While excavating to build colonies, ant workers dig through the ground and deposit the soil above; this forms a dome-like structure called a mound. Although all ants create it, the one fire ants make does not have a hole in the center. And that’s because they travel through tunnels.
If other insects bite you, you won’t know what type it is unless you see it. But if a fire ant stings you, you’ll know immediately. During the first few seconds, it’ll feel like someone is pinching you continuously. And the bite mark will appear after 20 minutes; these signs can help you identify the presence of fire ants.
After spotting an ant mound, you’ll try to destroy it. If you do and ants seemingly appear out of nowhere and start running in a frenzy, those are the common species. However, if they swarm at your or the object through which you destroyed the mound, those are fire ants.
Fire ants build habitats in moist and damp areas to allow better air circulation and regulate colony temperature. That means you’ll most likely find them in open sunny areas. But they may also enter homes or offices while looking for food. So, look for fire ants in:
Ridding deeper areas of fire ants is a monumental task, but one we’ve perfectly firmed our grasp on. Whether the infestation is in its initial stages or spreads beyond control, our technicians will act promptly and prevent it from damaging your property.
Fire ants are more dangerous than any other property-invasive pests. That’s because the insects inject venom into their victims using the stingers on the end of their bodies. This causes one of the following allergic reactions in humans:
If a fire ant stings you and you feel pain and swelling in the bite area, it’s a non-allergic reaction. You’ll also notice a pus-filled blister forming, but it’s nothing to worry about; you should allow the spot to heal on its own.
The symptoms of a medium allergic reaction include swelling, pain, and redness, along with an additional symptom, itching. These will appear within 12-24 hours of the sting, but it may not always be the case; only 50% of individuals stung by fire ants report these symptoms.
Only 1% of individuals stung by fire ants report a full-body severe allergic reaction anaphylaxis; its symptoms appear about 30 minutes after being bitten by a fire ant and can be life-threatening. Those who suffer from anaphylaxis have difficulty breathing and swallowing and feel weak and dizzy.
As a company that has provided many clients with fire ant pest control services, we’ve learned a crucial thing about the insects: treating all infested areas is impossible. And the reason is that fire ants build their colonies under the ground; disturbing the tunnels would only cause the fire ants to go deeper, making the job even harder.
That’s why our primary objective is to suppress the spread of fire ants as much as possible. And if the mounds are away from your property or in an area where fire ants do not pose a threat, we even suggest leaving them be. But when it’s about protecting your family’s overall well-being, we follow a thorough process to pull out all the stops.
If none of the above-mentioned treatments work, we drench the fire ant colonies quickly and effectively. It includes pouring liquids into the mounds, which typically takes a few hours to work.
Fire ants are social insects that do not leave their colonies easily. So, it’s possible that after we’ve treated the infested area, you might see a few again. However, it’s nothing to be concerned about. Here’s what you should do when that happens: