How to Get Rid of Fire Ants, Mounds & Nests in Your Home or Garden in The Villages, FL

Ants are unmistakable, as generally, they have enough common characteristics that make them relatively obvious among insect species. Where they all have their similarities, the different ant species have their distinctions too. With that in mind, we at Pest 911 would like to discuss the fundamentals of fire ants.

Fire Ant Identification

Fire ants are a reddish color and will get up to about 13/64” long. These ants frequently nest in the ground and their visible mounds in your yard indicate their presence. Established colonies can have larger colonies can reach up to 250,000 workers. These ants are notorious for their aggressive behavior and they will sill sting intruders repeatedly and are very active. Fire ant colonies will have at least one queen, but as their colony grows, they can easily have multiple queens; continuing to rapidly grow their population.

Do Fire Ants Eat Sugar?

Fire ants will eat nearly anything, as they are omnivorous, but tend to favor meats, greasy, and sweet varieties. As omnivores, fire ants will feed on any vegetable or animal source for food. The worker’s frequently dine on honeydew and other sweets, insects, earthworms, arthropod eggs, ticks, and spiders as well as seeds. If available, fire ants will also eat young and newborn vertebrate animals that include rodents, birds, and even calves. Additionally, fire ants will readily devour dead animals whether or not they caused the death of the animal or not.

Where Are Fire Ants Found?

Fire ants prefer warm, sunny conditions. The frequently favor dry fields and avoid shady areas. Many times, red imported fire ants can move into yards, infested nursery plants, or even grass sod. Their colonies can grow large enough to extend across several properties; making control and even prevention challenging.

Fire Ant Bite & Sting Symptoms

Fire ants first use their mandibles to grip their prey where they then inject venom through a stinger. For most people, the stings from fire ants can be fairly painful and in rare cases fatal, generally due to severe allergic reactions of venom. If people experience such reactions that include nausea, excessive itching, or sweating, they should attain medical conditions promptly. Because their sting includes alkaloid venom, skin irritation is very likely which can result in red bumps and white pustules, often leaving some scarring. Fire ants are known to attack potential threats or prey in large numbers and their sting is often described as an intense burning,” or “stinging” sensation. When you notice their mounds, look for their activity and be cautious where you step, sit, and place any food or drinks.

Signs of Fire Ants; Mounds, Swarmers & More

Signs of their presence, as mentioned, include their earthen mounds, which have a tendency to be more prominently visible after recent rainfall. Fire ant activities, with so many members; people can see the workers gathering food, marching in lines, and so on. Swarmer ant activities are also common. As aggressive as these ants are to anyone close to their nest, people know when they are about when they are repeatedly stung.

Fire Ant Control

If your Florida property is infested with fire ants, call in the specialists of Pest 911 and our experts will get them terminated to spare you and your pets from their harmful stings. Contact us today!