With its beautiful weather throughout the year and plenty of water, Florida is a haven for lots of pests. Unfortunately, fire ants are one of them. While many homeowners are content to simply deal with some pest issues, spotting fire ants in the yard can easily create a five-alarm situation. What’s a homeowner to do? Get rid of fire ants, of course, and these tips can help.
Learn to Find The Mounds
Fire ants will build mounds in almost any kind of soil. You’re more likely to see them, though, in open, sunny areas like your lawn. If the soil conditions are ideal, a fire ant mound can reach up to 24 inches in height. Even if they’re not right out in the open, these mounds are easy to spot. Take a look around any rotting wood on your property, stumps, trees, or at the edge of your foundation. If you see something that looks like a mound, look for the ants themselves which are 1/8 to 1/4 inch in length.
Understand the Dangers
Fire ant bites are certainly painful, but they’re a lot like the stings and bites of other insects. They’ll hurt or itch for a while, and you’ll want to clean them and work to prevent infection, but the pain should subside in a day or two. You’ll notice a small blister where a fire ant sting has occurred, and as tempting as it is to scratch it, it’s important to remember that it could get infected easily. Keep in mind that there is a small percentage of people who are allergic to these stings, and in that case, they can be lethal.
If you or someone you know experiences swelling, itching, shortness of breath, or serious sweating, know that they are having a serious allergic reaction to the bite and seek medical attention immediately. If a child encounters a mound and is stung multiple times, it’s best to contact a physician for treatment, as a child’s body can only handle so much venom. If you encounter a mound on your property, it’s best to leave it alone until it can be treated properly so you don’t get stung.
Practice Prevention for Better Fire Ant Control
Good fire ant control requires an understanding of what fire ants are looking for. They want a source of food, a source of water, and a place to live. You can control all of those things on your property. Start by eliminating potential nesting sites. Trim your trees and shrubs to ensure that the foliage doesn’t touch your home. If you have mulch or a similar bedding material, turn it every few weeks to keep the amount of moisture it retains lower. Mow your lawn on a regular basis, and remove your grass clippings.
When Fire Ants Removal Becomes a Necessity
Even if you do what you can to prevent fire ants, you may still end up infested. Fire ant mounds reach well underground, and that means if your neighbor has them, you may still end up dealing with them on your property. Fortunately, there are plenty of good treatment methods, but don’t be tempted to grab an off-the-shelf solution at the hardware store. They’re only designed to treat the creatures you see, not the queen and thousands of other workers teeming under the soil. Off-the-shelf products mean introducing chemicals to your yard that may end up doing more harm than good. A better idea? Give us a call. We have a number of fire ant treatment options that will not only help you keep these creatures out of your yard now but well into the future too. Give us a call at 321-259-7844 to learn more about how we can help.