If you are a native Floridian, there is no doubt you already know what fire ant mounds in Florida look like. However, being such a transient state where people flock to the south for the beautiful weather, many are confused on what they look like and if they should worry.
Fire ant mounds can take on a variety of characteristics. Typically, they are in open areas, but can also be built against structures or under logs where the mound is not completely visible. If you have any concerns at all that you may have fire ants, it’s time to get a professional’s opinion from Fire Ant Control, LLC.
Headquartered in Bokeelia, Florida, Fire Ant Control and our sister companies serve the entire imported fire ant quarantine area of the southeastern U.S. We are so confident our proven fire ant treatment works, we guarantee that it will rid your residential, commercial or agricultural property of 85-95% of your fire ants for four months at a time, or your money back.
Common Mound Characteristics
There are a few characteristics that can be found in every red imported fire ant mound, regardless of where they chose to build.
- Mounds are flat or dome-shaped
- They are typically a few inches to a foot tall
- Soil used to build the mound looks like sand that has been played with
- There is no open point of entry in the center of the mound
If you are dealing with a situation where you see something that fits these characteristics, it’s time to call a professional to help you deal with your fire ant problem.
The Mound is Only the Beginning
While the mound is a fire ant’s home, it is built to withstand complete destruction. If you were to destroy the mound, the colony would not die off and likely not relocate because attached to that mound are tunnels that run deep. The reason these mounds have no direct point of entry is because the ants access them mainly through these tunnels.
When you seek treatment for your fire ants, the goal is not to get rid of the mound but to kill off the whole colony. The queen is buried deep and safe, and it is only when she is sterilized that the colony will die, and you will be rid of your ants.
There are A LOT of Them in There
It is easy to imagine that a few thousand ants live in the mound at any given time. The truth is that, on average, between 100,000 and 500,000 worker ants are occupying that mound. That is a lot of stinging ants in one place. Disrupting the mound, even if accidentally, can result in many stings and a lot of pain for the unlucky person.
If you identify that you have a fire ant mound at your Florida home or business, it’s time to call in the professionals at Fire Ant Control, LLC at 239-312-8200 to help you safely get rid of it (and the ants that live inside it) before it becomes a danger to your home or to your employees.