Red imported fire ants are small, dark, reddish-brown ants. They range in size from about ⅛ to ⅜ of an inch in length. Like other ant species, they have segmented bodies, six legs, and a pair of antennae. Fire ants live in large, social colonies with tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of members.
Fire ants are omnivores that forage for their food. They eat a wide variety of insects, grubs, worms, and even small animals. They’ll also eat dead animals that they come across. In addition to meats, fire ants eat fruits and seeds and enjoy foods rich in sugars or proteins. This varied diet allows them to find food in most locations.
Fire ants are attracted to areas that provide them with food, water, and shelter. They prefer to live in sunny locations with moist soil. These areas also tend to be rich in insect life, which provides them with a plentiful food source. Fire ants may move onto your property when a new colony is forming or if a well-established colony is creating satellite colonies.
Fire ants typically spend the hottest times of day deeper in the soil where it’s cooler. They'll come out to forage for food when the temperature gets cooler, whether during the day or night. Because of these habits, it sometimes seems like fire ants are nocturnal, even though they are still active during the day, just out of sight.
As mentioned above, fire ants build their nests in moist soil with plenty of sunlight. If you have a new fire ant colony on your property, you may not see signs of it right away, but eventually, they’ll give themselves away with their fire ant mound. Although the nest is underground, fire ants create huge mounds above ground from the dirt they displace. These mounds are usually somewhat irregular but can be two to four feet in size, growing up to 18 inches high. Fire ant mounds don’t have an obvious entrance or exit hole since the ants don’t use the mound to come and go, but if you disturb the mound, the ants will quickly show up there to defend their nest.
If you’ve seen fire ants around your property, you may have noticed that they disappear when the weather gets especially hot or dry. In these situations, it’s tempting to assume that the fire ants have left your property for greener pastures, but unfortunately, that’s not the case. When the conditions are too extreme for fire ants, they nest deeper in the ground, where the soil is cooler and retains some moisture.
Fire ant stings can be dangerous, especially for young children, older adults, or people with compromised immune systems. The problem with fire ant stings is the sheer number of them you’ll get at once. When fire ants feel threatened, they don’t just deliver one sting and then run away. Instead, they come out in a swarm of dozens or even hundreds of ants, intent on stinging you as many times as possible.
Fire ant stings are painful. They leave a red welt that can turn into a white pustule. If you are allergic to the stings, you can react more severely to them. In some cases, medical attention is necessary for fire ant stings.
Fire ants prefer to stay outdoors. Even if they don’t get into your house, if they’re in your yard, they are a threat to your family’s health and safety. However, on occasion, fire ants do find their way inside structures. This usually occurs when they discover an opening in your house through your HVAC system or an AC unit.
If you've discovered ugly fire ant mounds in your lawn or landscape beds, contact Marathon Pest Control for assistance. We provide home pest control services that eliminate these stinging ants and their nests!
To keep fire ants out of your house, it’s essential to seal all entry points so that they can’t find a way inside. Keeping fire ants out of your yard is trickier to accomplish. The best way to do it is with routine fire ant control from Marathon Pest Control. Contact us for more information.
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