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Hi, everyone! Welcome to Bug Talk. I’m
your host Ryan Haynes and I am here to
tell you what you need to know about
Fire ants.
Fire ants, particularly the red imported
fire ant, have become a problem pest in
many regions around the world.
Originally native to South America, fire
ants have spread to various parts of
North America, Australia, and parts of
Asia. Their success as an invasive
species is attributed to their aggressive
nature and ability to adapt to their
environment.
In the United States, fire ants are mostly
found in the southeastern region
including Florida. The warm tropical
climate makes Florida an ideal place for
these pests. Fire ants can create many
issues for the agriculture industry as
well as homeowners.
Fire ants are small, reddish-brown
insects that measure about 1⁄8 to 1⁄4 inch
in length. They also have a shiny
smooth appearance. Fire ants are
usually easy to identify. Also known for
their painful sting and aggressive
behavior.
Fire ants feed on a variety of
substances including proteins, sugars
and fats. The variety of foods consumed
by the fire ant and predatory nature
have allowed them to survive in urban
and rural areas. Wildlife can be
disrupted too. Fire ants will prey on
other insects, small animals and bird
eggs.
A fire ant colony can contain thousands
of ants ready to defend their nest at all
costs. The colony is made up of
workers, queens and males. Worker
ants are responsible for foraging for
food, caring for eggs and defending the
nest. Fire ant nests are usually large
and very visible. The nest is made up of
soil but does contain underground
tunnels to protect the ants from
predators.
If a nest is disturbed, fire ants can
swarm out of their mounds and attack in
large numbers. These pesky creatures
can deliver multiple painful stings. The
venom of a fire ant can cause a burning
sensation, pain and in some cases an
allergic reaction is possible. The
aggressive behavior and ability to
defend their nest is a contributing factor
of why the fire ant can be found in many
parts of the world.
These mounds can be problematic,
particularly in lawns and pastures,
where they can interfere with human
activities and agriculture. Fire ants will
cause damage to crops by feeding on
plant roots, seedlings or fruit. Livestock
feed can become contaminated if
invaded resulting in a less nutritious
product. The presence of fire ant
mounds can make animals restless.
Surprisingly, fire ants are attracted to
electrical equipment and can nest inside
machinery and electrical boxes. If left
untreated fire ants can create a lot of
very expensive issues for the agriculture
industry.
Fire ant problems are not limited to the
agriculture industry alone. Homeowners
can also experience numerous issues
related to fire ants. The presence of fire
ant mounds in areas like lawns, gardens
and playgrounds can make these areas
less enjoyable or in some cases
unusable. Painful stings are a top
concern for homeowners dealing with
fire ants.
Fire ants will attack anything that
disturbs their nest including children and
pets. Just like ants nesting in farm
equipment, fire ants can also nest in
areas around your home. Fire ants
invading air conditioning units or outdoor
appliances can be problematic for
homeowners leading to costly repairs.
Fire ants can have a profound impact
through health and safety risks. If you
feel you are seeing evidence of fire ants
around your home be sure to call a
professional today. Thanks for joining us
today. We will see you next time.
Remember, if it crawls or fly’s, we’re
your guys!