In Alabama, we primarily encounter the red fire ant. Generally, most people know them when they see them, because once you've been stung, you won't forget.
Fire Ant Description
- Varying shades of red from orange to brown with a blackish colored behind/gaster
- Six legs
- Round head
- Abdominal stinger
- Live in dirt mounds
Dangers Of Fire Ants
These ants are highly aggressive. If you accidentally step onto one of their mounds, you will be attacked within moments. They will inject you with an alkaloid venom that causes a painful burning feeling; hence the name fire ant. Usually, the point of injection will become white, looking like a pimple. Many people are allergic to fire ant stings, with varying degrees of severity. There have been reported fatalities.
Because they are so aggressive, they are affecting the ecosystem in many ways. They are pushing out all other ant species, and making the areas they invade inhospitable to ground-nesting animals. When these animals relocate to escape the fire ants, the role they played in that area ceases.
Hard to get rid of is an understatement. These ants are resilient and determined. Like most ants, they can relocate their nests at a moment's notice, acting with a single mindset. Every movement and action are with one goal in mind. As we look down on them from our point of view, they seem to be chaotic and disorganized, this is not the case.
Since they can move so quickly, it’s difficult to completely eradicate the colony. This is why you need to attack without warning, and do so with gusto. There is no other way if you hope to be successful. There are many methods people use to wage war against the fire ants. Here are a few common ways:
- Granular poison sprinkled in a circle around the mound.
- Liquid pesticide directly onto the mound
- Boiling water directly onto the mound, completely drenching it.
- The two-step method, treating the entire lawn and the mounds individually.
The Best Way To Handle The Problem
You don't want to mess around with fire ants. The best way to handle the problem is with professional help from Prewett Pest Control. We are experts on fire ants and all the methods that work best to protect your family. Call us today for a free fire ant extermination estimate.
Prevention Tips
One colony can be up to 500,000 ants—which can mean hundreds of mounds in a single acre of land. Once you see mounds above ground, the colony population has been increasing for months. This is a really bad scenario. Prevention is a term we use loosely here, because if your area is prone to fire ants, these tips may or may not help. Any type of ant needs three main things to thrive: moisture, a place to live, and a food source. You can make your Mobile property less hospitable to the fire ant by removing the three things they need most.
- Start by eliminating any existing mounds. This is best done by contacting a pest control company.
- Keep your lawn well-groomed and maintained. Pick up grass trimmings after mowing.
- Store outdoor trash bins as far away from the house as possible. Also, clean them out regularly.
- Remove ripe fruit from trees, and fallen fruit from the ground.
- Turn your bedding material or mulch at least twice a month, to draw out the moisture.
Keep in mind that these ants are experts at relocating, and will pop up again when you least expect them, quite possibly in larger numbers than before. That’s why it’s always best to contact the Mobile, AL pest control professionals to take care of things, and our Prewett Pest Control team is ready to help. To learn more about how ant control can benefit your home and yard or to schedule a service, get in touch with us today!