Get Rid Of Fire Ants From Your Huntsville Property Once & For All
March 17, 2020
There are so many different ant species, sometimes it can be hard to tell which type of ants you’re dealing with. When it comes to fire ants, there are a few indications and telltale signs that they are in fact fire ants as opposed to another species.
Fire ants prefer to live in warmer climates, and they like to nest in wide-open spaces. One of the easiest ways to tell if you’re dealing with fire ants is to identify the mounds on the land they’re infesting. Fire ant colonies live in fluffy mounds of worked soil. Unlike most ant mounds, theirs do not have any opening in the center. It’s common to find new mounds after heavy rainfall.
Once fire ants get their colony situated, they begin to construct an underground tunnel system through which they can travel to other mounds and transport food and resources. Another way to tell if they’re fire ants is to watch their behavior upon being disturbed. Fire ants disperse right away when their mounds are disturbed. They scurry away and then start crawling up things vertically. This is a very specific fire ant characteristic.
Fire ants are much worse than many other types of ants because of their aggressive nature. If they feel threatened in any way or feel their colony is in danger, they will attack. They’re very defensive when it comes to protecting their nests and they will sting intruders repeatedly. When fire ants bite, they release a venom that causes severe itching and burning, which can feel like your skin is on fire; hence the name fire ants.
What Can You Do To Stop Them?
When it comes to preventing a fire ant infestation, it’s important to consider why they’re infesting in the first place. Fire ants are in search of three things: food, water, and shelter. So, any conditions that provide them with an opportunity to get one of these three things is going to be a big attractant.
Review the following prevention tips to save yourself the trouble of fire ant activity. Most of the following methods involve cleanliness in and around the home as well as the elimination of any excess water sources.
- Maintain a high level of cleanliness and practice proper sanitation.
- Clean up spills and crumbs; keep food in tightly sealed containers.
- Wipe down counters, sticky jars, and food residue.
- Don’t leave pet food out and store it in sealed plastic containers.
- Seal all cracks and crevices around outside of the home to prevent entry.
- Trim back shrubs and trees; rake away landscape bedding from the foundation of the house.
- Turn mulch every few weeks to reduce moisture build-up.
- Regularly mow your lawn and keep all vegetation well-trimmed.
- Remove leaf piles, stacks of wood, and other material ants can use for harborage.
- Pick up any fallen fruit from around trees and remove ripe fruit from trees.
- Store trash in tightly sealed garbage cans outside away from the structure of the building.
The truth is that fire ants are extremely hard to get rid of. The best thing you can do at the first sign of fire ant activity is to contact the professionals. Our team at Custom Pest Control is experienced in the complete treatment and prevention of fire ant infestation. We utilize a wide range of methods, including baiting applications and non-toxic pesticides to ensure your property stays safe year-round. Give us a call today to discuss your fire ant situation and we will schedule an initial service visit to get started on making your property fire ant-free.