Fire ants thrive in Florida, which is one of the reasons why pest control in Orlando is so important. Unlike other varieties of ants, fire ants can have painful consequences when they come in contact with humans, making fire ant infestations potentially dangerous for your home or your workplace.
We’re about to walk through some key information about fire ants so that you’ll know how to identify them, understand why they’re dangerous, and learn what steps to take to prevent them from developing into a full-blown infestation. And of course, if you’re already experiencing a fire ant infestation, we’ve got you covered there, too.
Key Characteristics Of Fire Ants: A Guide To Accurate Identification
Let’s begin with a quick overview of how you can accurately identify fire ants. What do fire ants look like? Visually speaking, there are small variations between individual ants in the same colony based on their roles within the colony, but their shared traits can be used to effectively identify fire ants.
In the case of fire ants that can be found here in the United States, you’ll want to look for distinctive red or red-brown coloring. While certain members of fire ant colonies will actually be black in color, you will definitely see red or red-brown ants in the group.
Fire ants are also distinctive in their body shape. The waist section of fire ants has two segments, whereas other types of ants only have a single waist segment. Workers in fire ant colonies also have stingers and mandibles.
The Dangers Of Fire Ant Infestations: Understanding The Risks
If you’re wondering how fire ants got their name, it has to do with not only their color but also the dangers they represent. Like many insects, fire ants really don’t go out of their way to seek out and attack humans. However, if you disturb their nests or their foraging paths, which can easily happen by accident, they will attack, which can result in some painful consequences.
Fire ants can bite and they can sting, and both can be very painful. But while fire ant bites typically aren’t serious, stings, in particular, inject venom, which can cause a burning feeling, as well as red bumps on the surface of the skin. Avoiding pain is reason enough to avoid contact with fire ants, but there’s also a more serious level of risk. Can fire ants kill you? It’s highly unlikely, but for certain individuals, fire ant venom can lead to serious health issues, such as shock, nausea, and chest pains. As always, if you notice these severe reactions following a fire ant sting, seek professional medical assistance.
Effective Fire Ant Prevention Strategies: Safeguarding Your Home
Now it’s time for effective fire ant prevention strategies to keep your Orlando home fire ant-free. Even if you aren’t currently seeing red fire ants on your property, these ant prevention tips can make sure it stays that way:
- Keep the area around your house neat and clean.
- Eliminate possible entry points to your home. These could be tiny cracks in the exterior or gaps underneath doors.
- Remove sources of stagnant water. Just like us, ants need water, so don’t offer it to them freely.
- Keep food stored out of sight and out of range of foraging ants. This also refers to food crumbs on tables and floors.
Every one of these strategies is important for keeping fire ants away.
Professional Ant Control: Eliminate A Fire Ant Infestation
The best route to eliminating a fire ant infestation is working with pest control professionals, who can handle the situation safely. Professional ant control services prioritize safe and effective solutions that remove fire ants from your home. Contact us as soon as possible to schedule an appointment and to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in Orlando.
Tags: fire ant prevention | orlando pest control | fire ant infestations |
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