As a homeowner in north Georgia, you are likely familiar with the fire ant. Often seen as a problem with the appearance of their earthen mounds, fire ants can also be identified by their painful bite – a less than desirable method of identification.
Fire ants have earned their name because their venom causes intense irritation; it may cause severe reactions, even death, in especially sensitive or allergic people. Very active and aggressive, fire ants are capable of killing young wildlife and producing sores and causing nausea in humans. Reddish in color and 1/16″ – 1/4″ in length, fire ants build their nests or mounds in loose soil where the ground is very dry and receives lots of sunshine.
Given to building their mounds in lawns, parks, cemeteries, athletic fields and similar areas, the fire ant is often in direct conflict with people, coupled with its aggressive stinging behavior makes this species intolerable in most situations. As a fire ant mound is disturbed, the worker ants appear to boil or swarm up from the earth. With their characteristic aggressive behavior, they will sting any intruder repeatedly. A typical yard with fire ants will have several mounds; larger yards may contain several dozen.
Occasionally nesting inside homes or institutional buildings, such as hospitals or nursing homes, this species can also be found beneath bathtubs, where they can often access the soil through the slab, and next to water heaters, or near other sources of warmth.
As we approach the summer months, it’s helpful to know that it is easier to prevent a fire ant infestation than it is to eliminate an existing one. Once established, large mounds may need several treatments to fully eradicate the problem.
This is why it is important to contact your pest management professional as soon as you suspect you have an issue with fire ants so that they can take a look, correctly identify the pest, and assist you in determining a method of action. If you do have a fire ant infestation, you want to start the process of eradication as soon as possible to prevent the colonies from becoming more established and more difficult to manage.
If you think you have a problem with fire ants. . . or any other pest. . . or simply have a question. . . call Faith Pest Control at 770-823-9202. We’ll be happy to speak with you any time.
Here’s to helping YOU live PEST FREE,
Erica
P.S. And be sure to ask about our FREE 58 Point Pest Analysis of your home or office!
