Fire ants are one of the most problematic ant species. Their sting and bite can cause uncomfortable reactions, as they are aggressive and have a painful sting. Having a fire ant infestation limits how much you can enjoy your property. Fire ants are common in Houston, frustrating pests that are hard to manage once their colonies are established. Here’s what you need to know about eliminating fire ants from Houston lawns, and how to keep them away for good.
All About Fire Ants
First, let’s look at a few facts about these pests.
What Are Fire Ants?
Fire ants usually grow no longer than 14 millimeters in length. They have a distinctively red body, a long ovular shape, and stingers on their latter half. In some species, fire ants have wings, which makes them difficult to distinguish from other pests. In addition, they retain the same coloration and shape as other species.
The Mound & Colony
Fire ants nest similarly to other ant species, except that their hills lack an entrance hole. The workers will build large, central hills – sometimes as tall as 18 inches. Underground are structures that contain food, eggs, and queens. The queen usually remains inside the colony unless the colony moves or the queen dies, in which case a new queen emerges.
Fire ant mounds typically emerge after heavy rain when water is abundant. They rely much more on underground networks to find water during times of drought.
The Dangers Fire Ants Bring
Fire ants have powerful mandibles on which they bite and stingers filled with venom that is painful to the touch. It can cause swelling, redness, irritation, and in some cases, severe allergic reactions. The itching of the bites alone can cause secondary irritation that may last for days.
Ants attack when they feel threatened. If you disturb a fire ant colony, you may be swarmed by them and suffer stings and bites.
Fire Ant Behavior
The most active fire ants are found in warm temperatures between 70 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Though they prefer the outdoors, they may enter a building for food, nesting grounds, or water.
A home with high moisture and accessible food may be infested by fire ants. Among the most accessible food sources are improperly stored leftovers and pet feed.
How Dangerous Are They?
At this point, it’s clear that fire ants are dangerous, but how dangerous are they? Fortunately, their sting is much less painful than the sting of a wasp. Unfortunately, they have ways of making up for this shortcoming. Some ways they’re dangerous are:
- Sting Effect: Stings still hurt deeply and are characterized by the ability to leave behind welts that look like pimples. As a result, the welts are often uncomfortable even after the initial sting.
- Multiple Attacks: Fire ants do not attack on their own. Instead, they attack in groups. A single sting is painful. What if there are dozens? Now we are talking misery. This is why it is so painful if you make the mistake of stepping on their mound.
- Anaphylactic Shock:
- Anaphylactic shock is probably the biggest danger of their sting. You should seek medical attention immediately if you experience this reaction. In spite of only 2% of the population being allergic, it’s not a risk worth taking.
What Attracts Them?
Fire ants have similar characteristics to other species that make them attracted to Houston, TX properties. Here are some of the traits they like:
- Messiness: The messier your property is, the more likely you are to have fire ants since they love garbage, scraps, and other signs of messiness. Keeping everything clean will decrease the likelihood of them being a problem.
- Holes: Sometimes it’s all about how easy it is to access food, water, or other necessities inside or around a home. They can squeeze through the tiniest of openings, so if life becomes easier all of the sudden, they’ll stay around. Seal up those openings to make their lives harder.
- Food Storage: A fire ant will also eat your food and various pet foods, just as other species of ants do. The reason you’ll have a fire ant infestation is a result of improper food storage.
- Leaks And Water: Standing water, leaks, and other easily accessible sources of water are highly attractive to fire ants. If your property contains a lot of water, you need to prepare for an infestation. Clean up these water sources so you can fight against pests.
Control Houston Fire Ants to Keep Them Away
Even with all your efforts to keep them away, fire ants might find their way onto your property. If you are continuously plagued by fire ants, contact Romney Pest Control. Our Houston, TX exterminators are happy to assist you in eliminating fire ant nests and keeping them out for good.