Fire ants are one species that you don’t want anywhere on your property. This is because, unlike other ants, this species is aggressive and will attack if disturbed. Unfortunately, they are common in the state of Texas. If you live in Anna, Texas, you should know how to identify this species, what to do if they are on your property, and how to prevent them from coming back.
What Should I Know About Fire Ants?
Fire ants are brown or black and can be reddish and 1/8 to 3/8 of an inch in size. Colonies are made up of a reproductive queen, winged males that reproduce with the queen, and worker ants. One colony can have multiple queens, meaning the colony can grow to hundreds of thousands of individuals. Their mounds can be up to 18 inches high, and unlike anthills, mounds don’t have an opening but use tunnels that can extend several feet.
Not only are fire ants dangerous to people, but they are also dangerous to the environment. Fire ants are an invasive species from South America. With any kind of invasive organism, the ecosystem is at risk. And fire ants are no exception to this. Because they are so aggressive, they drive out other ant species and make it difficult for other animals to survive.
How Are Fire Ants Dangerous?
Worker ants are dedicated to protecting their queen, and if they feel threatened, they will swarm and attack. And fire ants have their name for a good reason; their stings are excruciating and will cause a burning sensation. This means that any person or animal that accidentally disturbs a fire ant mound can be swarmed and attacked. Although fire ant stings are not usually life-threatening, children, small animals, and people that are allergic to their toxins can have a severe reaction.
Fire ants are further problematic because they are nearly impossible to get rid of. If you treat fire ants like other species, they will disperse and recolonize in a different location. Because of this, and how dangerous they are, you shouldn’t try to take care of a mound on your own and instead let trained professionals handle them for you.
How Do You Prevent Fire Ants?
Preventing fire ants is a difficult task, but there are several things you can do around your property to reduce the probability of them making a home in your yard. Like other pests, fire ants look for food, water, and shelter. And by removing or limiting what they are looking for, you can make your property less attractive.
What To Do To Remove Harborage Areas:
- Keep your lawn trimmed short.
- Remove leaves, stacked wood, and grass clippings.
How To Reduce Water And Moisture:
- Create dry zones by keeping mulch and flower beds several inches away from structures.
- Turn mulch and other materials used in flower beds to keep moisture from building up. You should do this every few weeks as it will also keep ants from building nests.
Removing Food Sources:
- Clean out cans and bottles before putting them in the recycling bin.
- Wash out garbage cans regularly.
- Pick up fallen fruit before it starts to rot.
How Do you Remove Fire Ants?
The best way to deal with a fire ant infestation is with assistance from professionals. Trying to handle fire ants on your own can be dangerous and will almost always be ineffective. If you are in Anna, Texas, call EcoArmor Pest Defense to take care of fire ants. We are trained in dealing with dangerous and painful pests like fire ants.
Our team at EcoArmor Pest Defense will make sure this pest leaves your property completely, so you don’t have to worry! Give us a call today to find out more.
