Down here, with the sun, sand, and nature, it feels like we have it pretty good. But the Sunshine State isn’t all…well, sunshine! There are issues here as well. And one of those issues is a biting, stinging menace with too many legs and a bad attitude! And that’s why today we’re going to touch on Tampa fire ant control and what to look out for with this pest.
Tampa Fire Ant Control: Overview
Fire ants don’t really invade your home the way other Tampa pests do. In fact, unless you see them plainly walking in a line on your counter, it could be hard to know they even have a nest inside. However, outdoors it’s much easier to see their nests protruding up from the ground. Some ways to tell if it’s a fire ant mound can include things like looking for the center hole. Fire ant mounds don’t usually have a single entry and exit way as other native ant species do.
And being a tropical pest, fire ants thrive in Florida and other subtropical climates. That’s one of the biggest reasons the rains of Tampa bay make central Florida such a hotbed for this pest. As such, you can usually find their beds in moist areas around the yard. This can be under leaky hoses or, more commonly, in gardens and raised beds. Ant damage to plants is typical as they farm aphids in such numbers that they tend to kill the plants they place them on. It’s not uncommon for more mounds to pop up after a rainfall either, as they use the cool and wet water from the rain to move about with greater vigor than normal.
And finally, an easy way to tell what kind of ant species you’re dealing with is to disturb the nest. Fire ant mounds, once disturbed, become a swarming mass of defending ants. Other ant species tend to hide underground but do this, and you’ll see why Tampa fire ant control is so important for a homeowner in the area.
Why are fire ant stings so painful?
Now, we can’t talk about fire ants without fire ant stings being mentioned. It’s where they get their names from, after all.
Fire ants are aggressive, venomous insects that sting. They cause painful, intensely itchy welts that turn into blisters. Though rare, fire ant venom can cause a life-threatening reaction. Seek immediate medical attention if you have any systemic symptoms. Stepping on a nest can actually put you in the hospital if you have a reaction, so please take any swarming event very seriously. Small children are especially susceptible.
Where did fire ants come from?
Did you know that fire ants aren’t actually from the United States? I was shocked to learn this, as they’ve become easily the dominant species of ant in this state. Think about it, when’s the last time you even saw another type of ant in or around your home?
Anyway, in the Southern U.S., these ants have been a massive pest issue since they came over in the 1920s from Argentina. It’s assumed that they arrived as stowaways on some sort of cargo ship. They spread rapidly in the southeast, covering Louisiana, Florida, and other coastal states. Since arrive, these ants have been driving out other ants and disrupting the landscape with prolific, aggressive colonies. With no natural enemies, their densities reached 10 to 100 times that of Argentina. Each year, they exact a $6 billion toll from property damage, medical treatments, and control costs.
Heavy global trade and travel have increased the likelihood that they can catch a ride abroad. There, the chances of surviving are low, but the red imported fire ants now thriving in the southern United States have already shown that they have what it takes to move to new territory. So if you’re hoping to see these ants go the way of the dodo anytime soon, I’d say, unfortunately you can’t really hold your breath.
Tampa Fire Ant Control: What to do when infested?
With fire ants, they’re going to be attracted to sources of food and water. You can reduce their numbers in and around your home by practicing extra cleanliness. The biggest tip I can give anyone who’s dealing with a pest infestation is to start with leaky pipes in and around the home. That may normally be underneath the kitchen and bathroom sinks. But it’s also a good practice to check around the water heater and any outside faucets you have as well.
Also, make sure your garbage is sealed and bagged properly. People don’t seem to realize that unsecured garbage is essentially a one hundred percent guarantee that you’ll be dealing with a pest infestation sooner rather than later.
But outside of cleaning up the home, there’s not much a layman can do. Ants tend to nest in wall voids, foundational cracks, or spots that are hard to reach. Make sure to contact a natural pest control specialist as soon as you’re aware of any fire ant infestation, as these ants are more dangerous than your run-of-the-mill pest due to their venomous stings and swarming nature.
