Fire Ants are Dangerous

They don’t call them fire ants without cause. Fire ants are nasty, aggressive, and dangerous. Their venom contains toxins that pose a threat to humans. Primarily found in the south and southwest, fire ants pose a problem to people in Phoenix when their colony is disturbed.

What does a fire ant mound look like?

A fire ant mound looks like a pile of dirt without an opening at the top like you’d find on other ant hills. Unlike other ant hills, a fire ant hill can be as tall as two feet!

You are most likely to see fire ants when temperatures are between 72 and 96 degrees. Otherwise they are underground. Left untreated, the fire ant colony will continue to grow.

Just because you can’t see them on the outside of the mound doesn’t mean you should leave them in your yard, only that you should leave them undisturbed.

Call Budget Brothers Termite & Pest Elimination at the first sign of any ant infestation.

What do fire ants look like?

There are three species of fire ants found in Phoenix and all three species of fire ants are dangerous. Reddish brown to black in color, adult fire ants have two nodes and 10-segmented antennae. They vary in size from an eighth to a quarter inch in length.

Are fire ants dangerous to humans?

Unlike other ant species, fire ants can bite multiple times. Their venom contains toxins that cause a burning sensation, infection, allergic reactions, and in rare cases death by allergic reaction. For most people, taking an antihistamine is all they need to cure their symptoms. If that doesn’t work, seek medical attention immediately.

Fire Ant Prevention

As with many pests, they key to fire ant prevention in Phoenix includes common sense precautions.

• Keep human and pet food in sealed containers.
• Restrict food consumption to tiled areas of the home.
• Clean spills immediately using soapy water.
• Vacuum corners of all rooms on a regular basis. A build-up of dirt and other particles is a food festival for fire ants and other pests.
• Restrict food consumption to tiled areas of the home.

Fire ants work in colonies and need their queen to stay active. The key to getting rid of an infestation is to kill the queen. The most effective treatment is the use of baits. The worker ants bring it back to the colony and the ants, including the queen, die.