Sometimes the smallest pests can be the most annoying. Ants are one of the tiniest creatures, but that doesn’t mean some can’t be dangerous. One type of ant that can cause harm is especially prevalent in the summer – the fire ant.
Mounds from fire ants seem to pop up everywhere during the summer. These small aggressive ants can leave their mark on your lawn and even you if you’re not careful. Unfortunately, in Arkansas, fire ant mounds are relatively common for homeowners. You’re in luck; our team at Clark Exterminating is here to help. Whether you have a small yard in Little Rock or extensive acreage in Malvern, we can provide fire ant control for you to get rid of these pests.
Unlike a lot of other bugs, fire ants are aggressive. They vary from ⅛-inch to ¼-inch in length. There are a lot of questions surrounding these tiny pests, so we took some frequently asked questions to the experts here at Clark, and here are their answers:
Why do fire ants appear in my yard?
A typical fire ant colony produces large mounds in open areas, feeding on young plants and seeds. Fire ants like moist areas near lakes and rivers as well as the base of trees. They may really enjoy your well-watered lawn. When it’s dry and hot, fire ants will build their nests under objects like rocks, driveways, or sidewalks.
The “white stuff” is actually firing ant brood, which is immature fire ants. The four stages of ants are egg, larvae, pupae, and adult. Brood are the eggs, larvae, and pupae.How long do fire ants live?
On average, fire ant queens live about six years and can produce up to 1,600 eggs per day (no wonder she’s queen). The life span of a worker ant is much shorter. In fact, worker fire ants live only four to six weeks.Are fire ants dangerous?
Only a small percentage of the population is hypersensitive to ant venom enough to suffer lethal allergic reactions. However, even the healthiest of people may experience shock if they receive multiple stings from fire ants. Another issue is that fire ants often attack in mass when you step on their mound, and ants can sting more than once. The stings cause a burning sensation due to the high concentration of toxins in fire ant venom.
How can I treat fire ant stings?
In most cases, the best way to take care of fire ant stings is to use an external treatment like an ointment or cream. You may also take an oral antihistamine. If you have a serious allergic reaction to a sting, seek medical help immediately!
Do home remedies work to get rid of fire ants?
You’ve probably heard many different options on how to get rid of fire ants in your yard. Here at Clark, we’ve heard it all! Where it’s putting out instant grits or orange peels or pouring gasoline or bleach over the mounds, it’s not going to fix the problem. Some remedies might kill a few ants, but it’s likely that it will just cause the fire ants to relocate to another area in your yard. Keep in mind, some of the home remedies can do more harm than good.
The best thing to do if you have a fire ant problem is to give Clark Exterminating a call. One of our talented pest technicians can come out and evaluate your situation. We’ll come up with a treatment solution that works best for you. With locations all over central Arkansas, you can depend on us to be there for you. Give us a call today at 501-758-0322 if you’re in the Greater Little Rock area or 501-776-1388 in the Benton area.
