Nobody likes unwanted visitors - especially when there are thousands of them! Fire ants, also known as ginger ants or stinging ants, are powerful pests that are most commonly found in the southeastern United States (including Florida). They are best known for their incredibly painful bites and stings. If you or someone you know is dealing with a fire ant infestation, there are three things you need to do; you must be extremely cautious, you must be aware that ending a fire ant infestation is an intricate process, and you should contact a professional to deal with it.
Be extremely cautious; fire ants are aggressive!
Fire ants are not your everyday ants that don't bother you if you don't bother them; they can and will attack you if you come too close or make them feel threatened. Fire ants are incredibly aggressive and will bite and sting, causing intense itchiness and/or painful blisters. Fire ant bites and stings often become infected and some people are even allergic to their venom. Fire ants typically choose to nest in the soil near moist areas, such as river banks, ponds, watered lawns, and highway shoulders. If you suspect your property has a fire ant infestation, practice extreme caution when scoping out your lawn for nests. Usually, fire ant nests are not directly visible as they are built under things like timber, logs, rocks, or bricks.
Be aware that getting rid of fire ants is an intricate process.
Fire ants are an incredibly intelligent species; like all other ant species, they have a queen that they serve and they will do anything to protect her, including biting or stinging you! They also build nests very quickly and efficiently, so the longer you wait to contact a professional about your infestation, the worse it will become. Depending on how severe your fire ant infestation has become, it could take anywhere from several hours to several weeks to clear all fire ant colonies from your property. Understand that you must be patient and put your trust in the hands of your local professionals.
Contact your local lawn care professionals.
If your property has been overrun by fire ants, the first thing you need to do is contact a professional to take care of the infestation for you. Fire ants are dangerous pests that will hurt you if you get too close. While there are a few things you could do yourself to attempt to gain control of your infestation, be aware that these solutions are often temporary and you will require the help of lawn care professionals eventually. Professionals have the experience and tools required to safely and effectively get rid of the infestation. These professionals can tell you everything you need to know about the specific type of fire ants that have overtaken your lawn and can give you an estimate of how long it will take to eradicate them. This important knowledge will help to keep you, your family, and your pets safe from their bites and stings.
The average fire ant colony can contain anywhere from 100,000 to 500,000 fire ants!
Give us a call today to schedule our fire ant control service.
In the case of a fire ant infestation, you will eventually need to bring in the professionals to handle it. Between their invasive, aggressive nature and their powerfully painful bites and stings, you will want the extra help. Protect your friends, family, and pets from fire ants by calling our lawn care professionals at Tropical Gardens Landscape today. We have been tackling pest control and invasive lawn insects in the Sarasota, Siesta Key, and Longboat Key, FL areas since 2007. Give us a call today at (941) 993-2442 to schedule our fire ant control service.
