FLORIDA ANTS
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| Fire Ants |
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Appearance:
Fire ants have a copper or reddish-brown head and body with a darker abdomen.
Size:
Can vary in size from 1/16-inch to 1/4-inch in length.
Behavior:
Fire ants are not your average pest; they are capable of causing serious medical, agricultural and property damage. They were most likely introduced to the States via cargo unloaded from ships from South America.
They are thought to infest over 260 million acres in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Puerto Rico. Infestations have also been reported in Virginia and Arizona.
Fire ants are distinguished by their aggressive behavior, particularly if their nest/mound is disturbed. When this occurs numerous fire ants will quickly rush out of the mound and attack the intruder. They are notorious for their painful, burning sting that results in intense itching and a pustule that resembles a painful pimple. Infection may occur if it is broken.
People unlucky enough to disturb a fire ant colony are seldom stung just once; dozens or even hundreds of stings can be inflicted in a very short time. Some people can have an allergic reaction to fire ant stings that range from rashes and swelling to paralysis or |
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anaphylactic shock. In rare cases, severe allergic reactions can cause death.
Fire ants are omnivorous and will feed on almost any plant or animal matter. Workers will forage for food more than 100 feet from the colony during both the day and night. When a large food source is found, fire ants recruit other workers to help take the food back to the colony.
Habitat:
Fire ants typically nest outdoors in dome-shaped mounds, some up to 4 inches high, or can be found next to or underneath timber, logs, rocks, pavers, bricks, etc. Mounds will not always be evident, but are usually found in open areas such as lawns, pastures, and along roadsides.
Single-queen mounds can have up to 250,000 workers and will fight other fire ant colonies, and can result in 40-150 mounds per acre. Multiple-queen can have upwards of 500,000; since they do not fight other fire ant colonies, their mounds are found closer together, and can reach densities of 200 to 800 mounds per acre!
Unique Characteristics:
In addition to stinging humans, fire ants can sting pets, livestock, and wildlife. Crop losses are also reported due to fire ants feeding on seedlings and even citrus trees. They will also nest in A/C units and gas and water meter boxes; electrical equipment and utility housings may serve as fire ant nest sites, sometimes resulting in short circuits.
Control:
Due to the overly-aggressive nature of the fire ant and the potential health hazards associated with its sting, we advise immediate pest control measures be taken if any fire ant infestation is discovered (especially if you have a confirmed allergy associated with these particular ants).
Repeat applications of pest control chemicals by an experienced exterminator is often the safest and most effective way to treat fire ant infestations. Many theories on how to eradicate them exist, but few, if any, really work.
Some think they can be drowned, but fire ant colonies have been known to latch onto floating debris, alive and angry, during serious floods. Also, be sure to watch for visible mounds when mowing your lawn; passing over one will send thousands of stinging ants in all directions. The job of eliminating fire ants is best left to a professional.
Floridabugs.com offers specifically designed pest control treatments to regulate and eliminate these pests! FloridaBugs.com – the finest in Florida pest control. |
