Spring brings relaxing warm breezes, abundant foliage and flower displays, and longer days in which to enjoy spending time in you outdoor living space. However, as temperatures heat up, fire ant populations explode. Your first indication of a fire ant colony in your yard is when you or a household member comes into contact with it and gets stung as a result. Unfortunately, fire ant stings almost never occur singly — these highly organized insects work together to eliminate perceived threats, resulting in multiple stings that make it quite clear how these red ants got their name.
Telltale Traces of Fire Ants
As mentioned previously the first sign of a fire ant infestation is often when someone is stung by one or more of these insects. However, if you live in an area where fire ant populations are common, keeping an eye out for signs of their presence may allow you to get a head start on eliminating them from your home and garden area. After it rains, for instance, keep a sharp eye out for small earthen mounds because these may indicate where fire ants have their nests. The mounds are built primarily in sunny, open locations, and unlike those of other ants, they do not have an opening in the middle.
You also might spot individual insects on “scouting missions.” They are small, reddish-brown, and have two pronounced nodes between the abdomen and the thorax. However, it can be difficult to tell them apart from native ant species simply by looks alone. One of the surest ways to differentiate imported fire ants from other types of ants is that they are the hotheads of the insect world and often behave in an aggressive manner.
What You can Do About Fire Ant Infestations
Fire ant prevention strategies include keeping your home and garden area as clean as possible. If you dump kitchen waste into a compost bin, make certain that the bin has a tight covering and that it’s not placed close to your home. Be careful when bringing toys and other objects indoors after they’ve been outside — inspect them thoroughly to make certain that there aren’t any fire ants on them. Fire ants are also attracted to pet food, so take care when feeding pets outdoors.
Fire ant infestations generally require professional intervention. It’s best not to put off contacting a qualified exterminator at the first sign of the presence of fire ants.
Hire a professional to make sure that your home is ant-free. Schedule a free inspection or read more about ant control.