No one wants to deal with fire ants. Anyone who has ever been stung by a fire ant knows precisely how they got their name. The sting feels like fire, usually on your feet and ankles, since it is most likely you have walked over one of their mounds. So, what are the options for fire ant management in Florida?
Although there are a few different fire ant species that call Florida home, the most common, and the worst kind of fire ant, is the red imported fire ant. Brought here accidentally in the 1990s, they will take over, and each colony can have hundreds and thousands of worker ants. That’s why you need a company that specializes in the management of fire ants like Fire Ant Control, LLC.
How to Identify Their Home
Identifying the mounds of the red imported fire ant is not difficult, as there will usually be surface ants going in and out. However, the tricky part is that if you are not paying attention, you could easily disturb a mound, causing you many painful stings from many ants.
Their mounds may not look like much from the surface – a pile of loose sand with no apparent entrance or exit – but underneath is a city of tunnels the ants use to move about. This is why they can be challenging to eliminate, since killing the surface ants is just a small fraction of the colony.
Places around your home where you can usually find these mounds are near air conditioner units or around HVAC systems, underneath electrical boxes, and in taller grass where they can hide. Keeping them outside is essential. No one wants a fire ant infestation inside their home.
How to Stop the Colony
The key to getting rid of the red imported fire ant colony is to exterminate the population. There can be multiple queens in each colony, and they are the sole reproducers. The best way to manage them is to sterilize them.
Fire Ant Control, LLC uses a baiting system that does just that. It sterilizes the queen, and without more ants contributing, the colony will eventually die off. This bait is applied every four months. It ensures that the current colony is wiped out and keeps any other fire ants from establishing new colonies on your property.
What Happens Once They’re Gone?
Many people like to forget about the fire ants because they are gone right now, but they are not gone forever. They are incredibly invasive, and if one colony sets up shop on your property, chances are others will as well.
Treating your property consistently every four months gives you a 95% guarantee that the ants will be gone. Like weeds in a garden, if you leave them completely untreated for an extended period, they will return.
What Are You Waiting For?
If you are looking for fire ant management in Florida, chances are you already know you have a fire ant problem. Call Fire Ant Control, LLC today at (239) 312-8200 to schedule your free consultation and take the first step in getting rid of these pests.