The majority of fire ants found in the southwestern and southern U.S. are actually invaders, a non-native species that are the red imported fire ant (RIFA). They have several names that include the ginger ant or tropical fire ants and the fire ant belongs to a variety of stinging ants with over 280 species worldwide.
Like the bodies of most insects, the fire ant, is made up of the head, the thorax, and the abdomen; and they also have three pairs of legs and a pair of antennas. The fire ant can be identified by their copper brown head with a darker abdomen. The worker ants are reddish to blackish in color and their size varies from 2mm to 6 mm (.12in to .24in) The nest of the ants will contain various sizes.
The RIFA was accidentally introduced into the states via a South American cargo ship that came into port in Mobile, Alabama, in the 1930's. The RIFA is estimated to cost $5 billion dollars annually on medical treatment, damage and in pest control of RIFA infested areas. They also cause an estimated $750 million dollars in damage to agriculture, this includes veterinarian bills, crop damages and livestock losses. It is estimated that between 30-60% of people living in fire ant infested areas are stung each year.
Since most people feel the sting as a burn, it has spurned the nick name fire ant. If you are sensitive to the fire ant sting, it can be deadly. The really neat thing about the venom is that it is both insecticidal and an antibiotic. Researchers believe that ant nurse workers will use a cover spray on their young to protect them from microorganisms. The fire ant also belongs to a genus of stinging ants with over 280 species worldwide. They are also called the ginger ant or tropical fire ant.
Eliminating the fire ant colony is not as easy as it looks. Fire ants nest in the dirt, often near moist areas such as river banks, pond edges, watered lawns and even highway edges. The nest will usually be invisible as it can be under objects such as timber, logs, bricks, rocks, paver stones and more. If there is no cover for the nest, you will see dome shaped mounds in open spaces, mainly in fields, parks and lawns.
To get rid of them you will need to locate their home or nest, so to speak. But be very careful they are aggressive and will bite you; you may have to contact a professional to help you eradicate these ants if you are unsuccessful in eradicating them yourself. One way to eradicate them is the Texas 2 step organic method of fire ant control; developed by Texas A&M University it provides suggestions for less toxic ways to remove the ants. A professional may use 3 different ways of eliminating the pest. Baiting, mound drenching and broadcasting of contact pesticides may be used. The best long term control products used by most professionals are Permithrin Pro, Talstar, Talstar Granules, and DeltaGard granules.
Like the bodies of most insects, the fire ant, is made up of the head, the thorax, and the abdomen; and they also have three pairs of legs and a pair of antennas. The fire ant can be identified by their copper brown head with a darker abdomen. The worker ants are reddish to blackish in color and their size varies from 2mm to 6 mm (.12in to .24in) The nest of the ants will contain various sizes.
The RIFA was accidentally introduced into the states via a South American cargo ship that came into port in Mobile, Alabama, in the 1930's. The RIFA is estimated to cost $5 billion dollars annually on medical treatment, damage and in pest control of RIFA infested areas. They also cause an estimated $750 million dollars in damage to agriculture, this includes veterinarian bills, crop damages and livestock losses. It is estimated that between 30-60% of people living in fire ant infested areas are stung each year.
Since most people feel the sting as a burn, it has spurned the nick name fire ant. If you are sensitive to the fire ant sting, it can be deadly. The really neat thing about the venom is that it is both insecticidal and an antibiotic. Researchers believe that ant nurse workers will use a cover spray on their young to protect them from microorganisms. The fire ant also belongs to a genus of stinging ants with over 280 species worldwide. They are also called the ginger ant or tropical fire ant.
Eliminating the fire ant colony is not as easy as it looks. Fire ants nest in the dirt, often near moist areas such as river banks, pond edges, watered lawns and even highway edges. The nest will usually be invisible as it can be under objects such as timber, logs, bricks, rocks, paver stones and more. If there is no cover for the nest, you will see dome shaped mounds in open spaces, mainly in fields, parks and lawns.
To get rid of them you will need to locate their home or nest, so to speak. But be very careful they are aggressive and will bite you; you may have to contact a professional to help you eradicate these ants if you are unsuccessful in eradicating them yourself. One way to eradicate them is the Texas 2 step organic method of fire ant control; developed by Texas A&M University it provides suggestions for less toxic ways to remove the ants. A professional may use 3 different ways of eliminating the pest. Baiting, mound drenching and broadcasting of contact pesticides may be used. The best long term control products used by most professionals are Permithrin Pro, Talstar, Talstar Granules, and DeltaGard granules.
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