If you were outside working in your yard, or watching your kids play, the last thing you want is to have your kid come running to you because someone stepped in the wrong place. Fire ants are not fun to be attacked by. A-Tex Pest Management is here to go over a little bit about fire ants, so you know what they are and how to treat them.
What Do Fire Ants Look Like?
Fire ants have a dark reddish-black to reddish-brown colored body. They also have a stinger at the end of their abdomen. This stinger is very small that most people can’t see it without a magnifying glass. Fire ants live in colonies, these colonies will build mounds or piles in the dirt. With these mounds, they do not have just one hole. They have many holes that look like dots over their mound. It can also just look like piles of loose dirt. You may find the mounds in the middle of your yard or the field. They prefer full sun but will build them in many places. You could even find them inside your AC unit, an electrical box, under a flower pot, or even a child’s toy that has been left outside.
Why Do Fire Ants Suddenly Appear after Rain?
You may see more fire ants out after it rains. This is because fire ants take their nest, underground and search for water and escape from the heat. When it rains they come out to the surface with their young to keep them all from drowning. This can happen during the time it is drier outside. When it rains winged ants also called reproductive colonies made, and start a new colony. When it rains, this is when you most likely will see ants in your home. They can come through tiny cracks and gaps in your foundation, through windows, or any other place they can find to enter your home. They come into your home in search of food and water. When the ants get in your home you need to be careful with young children or pets. Their bites can be painful, but if someone is allergic to the ant venom it can make them sick.
How Do I Get Rid of Fire Ants in My Yard?
There are a few ways that you can get rid of fire ants. Many people set out bait as soon as they find an ant colony. You can buy products to sprinkle on the mound, but make sure you are careful because a lot of these products are toxic for people and pets. If you prefer to use a less toxic product, you can use baking soda. Remember you need to be careful you do not want to get covered in bites. The best time to do this is after it rains and the fire ants are out and moving. Fire ants can have multiple queens in a colony, and if you do not treat it then the queens can split off with a few workers and start another mound.
Ant Pest Inspections, Treatment, Control, Removal & More in Austin, Round Rock, Leander, Pflugerville & Cedar Park Texas
The easiest and best thing you can do when you see fire ants is to call a pest control company like A-Tex Pest Management to come and treat your fire ants. When you hire a company, you can have confidence that they will get rid of the fire ants from spreading and getting into your home. If you notice that you have a fire ant colony on your property then give us a call.
