SERVING FLORIDA SINCE 1990

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DON’T GET BURNED BY FIRE ANTS

Have you ever been stung by a Fire Ant? They’re known to attack in large numbers and sting repeatedly. If you felt the wrath of a fire ant colony then you know their stings feel like an intense burning. Certainly not an insect you want taking over your lawn.

Fire ants are a reddish color and range from 1.6mm to 5mm in length with a visible stinger. They favor warm, sunny conditions and prefer to stay in dry fields. Mostly found in humid, south eastern states just like Florida. Typical mounds grow up to 2 to 4 square feet in size. These mounds get created by pushing up the soil as they tunnel deep into the ground.

Colonies contain several hundred thousand ants ranging from 100,000 to 500,000, and most often have multiple queens. They have so many so they can recover if part of the colony or a queen has been killed. When one colony has been eliminated another will more likely move in. This is why they can be difficult to control.

Fire ants have been known to move into yards as a result of infested nursery plants or grass sod being used in the homes landscaping. Colonies can grow large enough that they can extend across several properties.

When attacking, fire ants first use their mandibles to grip their prey, and inject venom through their stinger. The stings are painful to most and even fatal to some. Their sting which includes alkaloid venom is highly irritating to humans and results in red bumps and white pustules, which can ultimately lead to scarring.

When it comes to keeping your family and pets safe, you most certainly don’t want to have fire ants in your lawn. If you find you have a fire ant problem its always best to consult with a professional, and Palm Coast Pest Control has certified technicians ready to help you!

1-800-401-5914