When we think of pest infestations, there are few as bad as ants. And down here in Florida, we have all kinds of ants. Most of them can be pretty benign, if not annoying. But not the Brandon fire ant. These insects are so aggressive and their sting is so painful that they can actually be dangerous in large numbers. That’s why today we’re going to discuss, Brandon ant control.
Brandon Fire Ant: Infestation
In areas where fire ants are commonly found, most people identify this pest by the appearance of the mound. The painful sting of the fire ant’s bite is another good indicator, but not recommended as a method of identification. Fire ants build mounds in almost any type of soil, but they prefer open sunny areas such as pastures, parks, lawns, and fields. Their mounds can grow 18 to 24 inches in height if the soil conditions are right. Often mounds are located in rotting logs and around stumps and trees. Colonies can also occur in or under buildings. The ants themselves are reddish-brown in color and roughly 1/8 to 1/4 inch in length.
Brandon fire ants build mounds in the yard. These mounds look like hills of loose dirt. Unlike some other ants, there will not be a central hole near the top. Be cautious, however, since any perceived threat to the nest will cause hundreds of fire ants to swarm out of the mound and attack!
What To Do?
With most species of ant, you can usually use over the counter bait to deal with an infestation. Unfortunately, I can’t recommend you do that with the Brandon fire ant. These guys swarm quickly and bite hard. Please contact a professional if you find an infestation of this pest in your home, preferably one that uses natural methods, since chemical pesticides come with a risk.