When you live in Texas, you know that fire ants are part of the landscape. Introduced to the area in the 1950s, fire ants have become a common pest here. Even so, that doesn’t mean you want them moving onto your property. Fire ants are known for their ability to sting, which is something you and your family don’t want to experience. Understanding how to identify fire ants, how to prevent them, and what to do if you find them on your property is vital for anyone who lives in Texas. Covenant Pest Control not only provides fire ant control in Boerne but also offers the resources you need to answer your questions about fire ants.
Key Characteristics Of Fire Ants: A Guide To Accurate Identification
Identifying fire ants is not always an easy task. Many people confuse fire ants with red ants when the reality is that most ants that we consider red ants are not red but more of a reddish shade of brown. Even fire ants, the most common species in the Boerne area and named the red imported fire ant, can have a reddish-brown color, so knowing other things about their appearance and habits is the key to proper identification.
There are a couple of things to look for when trying to determine if the ants in your Boerne yard are fire ants. First, fire ants build distinctive mounds. These flat, irregularly shaped mounds can grow up to four feet in size, so they are hard to miss and quite different from the ant hills other ant species make. If you come into close enough contact with an ant to get a good look at it, you can determine if it is a fire ant by looking for a stinger and two bumps between its thorax and abdomen.
The Dangers Of Fire Ant Infestations: Understanding The Risks
Although fire ants create unsightly mounds on your lawn, ruining the landscaping you’ve carefully cultivated, that’s the least of your worries when it comes to these ants. The biggest danger of an infestation is that these ants deliver painful fire ant stings. If you or a family member accidentally disturbs a fire ant mound, dozens or even hundreds of fire ants will immediately respond to the threat by swarming and stinging. While sustaining even a few of these stings is a painful experience that delivers an intense burning sensation, it can be extremely dangerous for people who have allergic reactions to those stings. Young children, elderly adults, and people with compromised immune systems are also at special risk of having a severe reaction.
Effective Fire Ant Prevention Strategies: Safeguarding Your Home
When it comes to preventing fire ants, the most important thing to do is make sure the interior of your house is protected from them. While they typically build their nests outdoors, fire ants will sometimes attempt to get inside your house, which can cause serious issues. Seal cracks and crevices around your house to make sure fire ants in Boerne can’t get inside.
Professional Ant Control: Eliminate Fire Ants Around Your Home
If you see a fire ant mound on your property, you must avoid it for your own safety. The next thing you should do is contact the professionals at Covenant Pest Control for fire ant pest control in Boerne. We offer fire ant control services that will stop fire ants from reproducing and protect your property in the future. Our fire ant treatments come with a one-year warranty.
Learn more about our fire ant pest control services by visiting our ant control service page. Then give us a call to get your fire ant problem under control quickly and safely.