Fire ants in Brevard County are no joke. These little troublemakers can take over your yard, leaving behind painful memories—literally. They love building their mounds in soft soil, turning your lawn into their stomping ground and making it less fun for outdoor hangouts.
- Fire ants are stealthy, like little ninjas
Ever stepped on a fire ant mound without realizing it? These ants don’t play nice. Before you know it, they’re marching up your legs, stinging in rapid fire. Unlike most ants, fire ants sting repeatedly, and their venom is no fun—especially for kids, pets or anyone prone to allergic reactions.
- Fire ants are telepathic (kind of)
These prolific creatures use pheromones to communicate. Employing smells, they alert one another of food availability, dangers and one another’s presence. It’s also their primary method of recognizing the colony’s queen. They perform the bulk of their communications with their smellers.
- Troublemaking is in the DNA of a fire ant
Fire ants aren’t just about stings. They mess up gardens, harm the helpful bugs and even damage plants by disturbing roots. Plus, they can invade homes in their search for food and water.
- Hercules has nothing on a fire ant
Ants in general have tremendous strength relative to their size. Their weightlifting abilities are light years ahead of anything we see in the Olympics. A recent study demonstrated that ants can withstand up to 5,000 times the weight of their own bodies, making them the ultimate in power lifting.
- Fire ants love the Florida sun
Hot weather very much agrees with fire ants. After all, they’re an invasive species from South America, where it’s hot year round. That’s bad news for Floridians, as the Sunshine States is a perfect place for them to thrive.
Bonus: When fire ants attack
If you get swarmed, the first thing to do is move. Quickly get away and brush them off (gently—because crushing them just makes them keep stinging).
Once you’re in the clear, wash the stings with soap and water and slap on a cold compress. You might take an antihistamine if you’re itchy. Got blisters? Leave them alone — popping them can lead to infections. And if you feel anything serious like swelling in your throat or trouble breathing, seek medical attention ASAP.
Call Slug-A-Bug
Got a fire ant problem? Call Slug-A-Bug at (321) 259-7844 for a free inspection. Don’t let these pests ruin your yard or your day!
The post Five facts about Florida’s feisty fire ants first appeared on Slug-A-Bug Pest Control.
