Of all the insect pests to have on your property, fire ants are some of the worst. While they can’t damage your wooden structures the way that termites can, their bites are incredibly painful, and you don’t want to expose your loved ones, especially children or pets, to that risk. Our team at Quality Control, Inc., wants to help you keep your home as safe and comfortable as possible, and to help you do that, we have put together this article. We’ll go over three signs that you need professional fire ant control to help you know when to call us.
- The Anthill has No Central Hole- One sign that you have a fire ant infestation, and thus need professional fire ant control, can be found in the shape and structure of the anthill. Fire ant mounds have no central opening, as the ants leave and return by underground tunnels, while the mounds of most domestic ants do.
- The Ants Vary in Size- This sign can be tricky to spot, as fire ants are quite small, but try to see whether the ants seem to be uniform in size or if they vary. Most domestic ants are uniform in size, while fire ants can vary significantly between one and the next, ranging from ⅛” to ¼” in length.
- The Bites Burn- Lastly, if you happen to get bitten, pay attention to how the bite feels to tell if you need fire ant control. Fire ant bites and stings hurt a great deal, and the feeling is often compared to being burned. In addition, fire ant venom causes the skin to develop pustules full of white or yellowish fluid at the sting site, which other ant bites do not.