November 10, 2020
Categories: Tools
If you are from the lowcountry you are fully aware of fire ants and how annoying not to mention invasive they can be. However, if you are new to the Charleston SC area or considering moving to the area here is a short red important fire ant lesson.
Red Imported Fire Ant: Ssolenopsis invicta
Size: There are many sizes of workers in the colony, ranging from 1/8-inch to almost 3/8-inch in length.
Color: Reddish brown.
Habitats: The red imported fire ant was brought into this country during the 1940s and has spread to cover most of the Gulf Coast states and most of eastern Texas. They have also now become established north into parts of Tennessee and North Carolina. These ants’ nest in the soil and construct large mounds that are easily seen in lawns and pastures. They like the lowcountry sandy soil. A single lawn may contain a dozen or more mounds. This ant will also locate nests within landscape mulch and beneath items on the ground, such as landscape timbers. The mounds of such colonies may be shallow and poorly structured, making them difficult to detect for the less experienced eye. Fire ants may construct mounds next to the foundation and enter homes through weep holes or other exterior cracks and holes. Once inside, workers forage in trails beneath the edge of carpeting. On occasion, the ants will bring soil up into walls or beneath first floor bathrooms and construct a nest.
Behavior: Fire ants pose a health risk to anyone venturing into areas where the ants are found. Although most stings result only in a raised welt that may develop a white pustule, a person allergic to insect stings could experience a more serious reaction. Additionally, a person seldom receives just one sting. Rather, dozens or even hundreds of stings can be inflicted quickly on a person accidentally kneeling or standing next to or on a fire ant mound. In addition to health risks they can evade electrical equipment to short circuit and/or fail.
Tips for control: Because of the health threat posed by fire ants, it is important to take steps to control the ants around the home and in the yard. Over-the-counter fire ant baits can be effective if properly used, but regular applications are necessary because the ants readily reinvade from neighboring properties. Many homeowners employ the services of a professional pest control company to provide fire ant services.
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11.20
Categories: Tools