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Ants may look like harmless little creatures when we see them out and about. However, fire ants, also known as red ants, have become a common problem in the southern United States. They are not a native species in North America but they have managed to thrive here because of the warm climate and the lack of natural predators.

Fire ants favor the southern states because they tend to thrive in warm, sunny conditions. They prefer dry, open areas such as lawns or fields and tend to stay away from shady places such as woods. Over time, their soil mounds can grow to over 2 feet in diameter and up to a foot high and they are usually in the shape of a dome. Colonies like this can contain several hundred thousand ants, including at least one queen. Often, if mounds remain undetected, the fire ant colony can multiply at a rapid pace. If this happens, the colony may send out a new queen to begin another mound nearby. By doing this, they are able to expand the colony at an even quicker rate.

Fire ants can most often be identified by the dull color of their body which varies from reddish brown to reddish black. They also have a stinger through which they inject their venom after they have bitten into their prey. It is important to be cautious if you think you may be encountering fire ants because their stings are painful to most people and can actually be fatal to some. If you have been stung reactions can range from milder ones such as painful red bumps to more severe ones such as sweating, nausea or excessive itching. If you do experience a severe reaction, it is best to contact a medical professional.

If you think you might have a fire ant problem in or around your home in the greater Los Angeles area, you should contact Accuracy Plus Pest Control at (888) 675-0258. We can provide a free inspection and get you on the path to being pest free today!

Fire ants are not only a huge home and garden pest, they can be very painful if they bite you. For this reason, people take all kinds of different fire ant control measures trying to get rid of them. And while there are many home remedies available, most of them are exactly what you should not be doing for fire ant control in Orange County.

Grits

Many people think that placing grits on top and around the ant’s mound will be enough fire ant control. The idea behind it is that the fire ants will eat the grits and that when they do, the grits will expand in the stomach and the ants will literally explode. In fact, this is not at all the case. Grits will not kill fire ants; all they will do is give the fire ants something to eat, and a reason to stick around!

Gasoline

One of the most intense ways that people choose to deal with fire ant control is gasoline. They believe that pouring gasoline over the mound will send toxins throughout the colony, thereby killing the ants. However, this isn’t the case. Fire ants live in deep tunnels in the ground, and they are pretty fast. Once the gasoline has been poured, fire ants will simply burrow deeper into their tunnels and will remain unharmed. Also, because pouring gasoline onto the ground is so bad for the environment, this is actually illegal fire ant control in Orange County.

Boiling Water

Just like gasoline, many people think that pouring boiling water over a fire ant mound will be enough to kill any of the ants. Again though, the fire ants will just burrow deeper into their tunnels, or move away from the mound altogether. Once the area becomes cool again, they’ll simply build another mound and continue living there. Also, even though boiling water may not be as harmful to the environment as gasoline is, this will still kill any plants or vegetation that are also in the area.

If you have a fire ant problem, you can be guaranteed that these fire ant control measures will be nothing but a waste of time. Fire ants are notorious for being extremely hard to deal with on your own. When you need something that will get those nasty, biting ants out of your home or yard, call a professional in fire ant control in Orange County. They’ll be able to provide fire ant control that will actually be effective!

Accuracy Plus can handle all of your pest control needs, both inside and outside. Call us at 888-675-0258 for more valuable information.

Fire ants can be a real hazard to your yard, and to the bare feet and ankles of anyone who walks in it. The bite of a fire ant is incredibly painful and they can cause a great deal of damage to flowers, vegetables, and grass. But you don’t want to be spraying all kinds of chemicals and toxins all over your yard either. Here are 5 eco-friendly ways to get rid of fire ants!

Boiling Water

Pouring boiling water over any ant mound will do the trick in eliminating them, and the case is no different for fire ants. Boiling water will kill most of the ants in the colony but most critically, will kill the queen, which will eventually kill off the members of the colony that manage to survive the steam treatment. It’s important when you pour boiling water over the nest of fire ants that you don’t disturb it in any way. This will only alert them to the fact that there’s danger nearby and not only will you get bitten, but the fire ants will also be likely to skitter away before you can do much harm to them.

Sticky Traps

There are sticky traps that are made for several pests in the yard and garden, including fire ants. Place them in the insect’s path to their food source and while they’re on their way to eat, they’ll become stuck and eventually die.

Grits

Fire ants really like grits, but once they eat them the grits expand in their stomach and cause them to explode. If you’re not in a real rush to get rid of the fire ants in your yard, grits are an inexpensive and effective option. Just spread them out on the lawn close to the nest of fire ants.

Caulking

If you think fire ants are bad outside, wait until they make their way inside your home – then you’ll know what a real problem is! Go outside and make sure that any cracks in the foundation, near windows or doors are caulked so that they are tightly sealed. This will be enough of a barrier to keep fire ants out.

Eco-Friendly Exterminators

Sometimes the nest of fire ants in your yard is small enough for you to control it yourself. But if there are several nests, or the nest is extremely large, you might need to call in a professional. Fire ants are not only painful when they bite, they can be very harmful too, especially if there are a lot of them. Call a professional that uses eco-friendly fire ant control measures and you’ll be able to enjoy your yard again in no time!

Accuracy Plus can handle all of your pest control needs, both inside and outside. Visit our site for more valuable information or give us a call at 888-675-0258.

If you live in the southern part of the U.S. chances are good you’ve come across fire ants at some point.  Most people in the southern states have actually been bitten by fire ants at least once; and it’s not something you quickly forget.  But fire ants are a fascinating species of insect.  That doesn’t necessarily mean you want to make them at home in your yard, but you might still be interested to know some facts about these amazing creatures:

1. Fire ants are not native to North America.  They were introduced to the U.S. in 1918 from South America.
2. The chances of fire ants spreading to the northern U.S. states is limited because the freezing soil during the winter months limits colonies from spreading in that direction.
3. The majority of the ants in a fire ant colony are female workers.
4. Fire ants are omnivores, eating both plant and animal matter.  They prefer high fat foods.
5. The workers that forage for food exit to the surface up to 25 feet away from the mound.
6. Adult ants cannot swallow solid food.  Instead, they carry it back to the mound and feed it to the larvae which digest it and regurgitate it up in a liquid form that is then shared by the adult ants.
7. It takes months for a colony to build up a mound large enough to be seen on the lawn. 
8. Fire ants can invade farm equipment and are actually responsible for more than $6 billion in losses from crop and equipment destruction each year.

As interesting as they are, fire ants can be dangerous to your pets and kids—at the very least causing pain and discomfort, and at worst causing death or permanent damage.  If you notice fire ants in your yard, call immediately to have our representative visit your home and assess the situation.

For a free inspection, give us a call at 888-675-0258 or go to http://www.accuracypluscalifornia.com/.