When I moved into my current home, I almost immediately noticed the roaches. While the place wasn’t overrun with them, I saw them far too often. For a few years, my husband and I tried almost every anti-roach product available on the market. We would enjoy success for a short duration. However, the roaches always came back. Then, a wonderful thing happened. We hired a pest control company to spray our home for termites. As a bonus, the chemicals used to prevent termites got rid of our roach issue. If you want to protect your family from harmful roaches, contact a local pest control entity today. On this blog, you will learn how to rid your home of roaches for good with the help of a pest control specialist.
Protect Your Family
5 Things Homeowners Need To Know About Fire Ants
Jennie Lucas
Fire ants, as their name implies, have a very nasty sting. These ants are an invasive species in the United States, but they can be found in backyards across the country. Here's what you need to know about these dangerous pests.
Where did fire ants come from?
Fire ants are native to Brazil, and have only been in the United States since the 1930s. They were accidentally transported by ships traveling between Brazil and the southern United States. These states provide a good habitat for the tropical ants, so they quickly became a very successful invasive species.
How do you identify them?
Fire ants have red or reddish-brown heads and brown or black bodies. While many types of ants have a uniform size among their species, fire ants vary in size. If you see a group of ants that are different sizes, there's a good chance that they are fire ants.
Are they found in every state?
Fire ants aren't found in every state, but they are very widespread. These invasive ants are found throughout the South and the Southeast, and isolated populations have been found outside of this region. Fire ants have been found in California and occasionally in Maryland. Over time, the ants will continue to expand their range, so eventually, even homeowners in warmer parts of Canada will encounter fire ants.
Do their bites really feel like fire?
After a fire ant bites you, you'll feel a burning pain at the site of the bite, hence their name. The bites will form itchy bumps, but these bumps will only last for about an hour. After the initial bumps disappear, they may be replaced with pus-filled blisters. People who are more sensitive will have much more severe symptoms, such as severe pain at the site of the bite, vomiting and diarrhea, or even difficulty breathing.
How do you get rid of fire ants?
It's very hard to get rid of fire ants since they are so widespread. Even if you manage to eliminate every fire ant in your backyard, more ants can come over from your neighbor's yard.
You can buy ant bait that will kill the ants quickly, but the effects won't last long. Your other option is to use residual insecticides; these products will stay on your lawn or patio and keep working until they wear away. Insecticides are dangerous, so it's safer to hire a pest control company like Coastal Pest Management to look after this for you, rather than trying to do it yourself.
Fire ants are an invasive species of ant with a painful bite. If they move in to your backyard, be careful where you step, or you could find out firsthand why they're called fire ants.
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