One thing you’ll find in my writing is that parasites are usually the worst pest infestations you can have. And while that’s still mostly true, it doesn’t discount the damage and danger that certain other species of insect account for. This is especially true for the New Port Richey fire ant. Today we’ll go over the basics, and what you should do in case of an infestation.
New Port Richey Fire Ants: Deducing An Infestation
If you’ve spotted red ants in your home, don’t automatically assume they are fire ants. While, yes, fire ants are typically red, they can also be black. Especially the black male reproductives.
Ant species that are commonly confused with fire ants include Western harvester ants and pharaoh ants. Besides their coloring, you can tell fire ants can be by their 10-segmented antenna. Also by their spineless thorax, and distinctive mandibles. However, it is challenging for a non-professional to 100% identify fire ants. If in doubt, contact your pest control specialist’s office for assistance.
There are two main problem fire ant species in the U.S. that you should know: red imported fire ants (solenopsis invicta) and southern fire ants (solenopis xyloni).
As you can imagine, red imported fire ants (or sometimes referred to as RIFA) have become a growing concern for homeowners. It’s a the highly aggressive, non-native species are known to build giant colonies. Many grow up to 100,000 members located deep in the soil.
Southern fire ants are active in California and extend east all the way to the Atlantic coast. You’ll find them typically building loose mounds near your trees and often are only spotted in large numbers when mounds are disturbed. Southern fire ants do carry out the beneficial task of preying on other pest species. However, they are considered a threat to humans due to their capacity to sting and damage properties.
What Should You DO?
Unfortunately, there’s not much a layperson can do about a serious insect infestation, especially in this case. General cleanliness is a good start. But outside of that, you’ll likely need a pro to deal with your New Port Richey fire ants. And try to contact one that uses natural methods of pest control. Since those are almost always just as effective and safer than chemical methods.