What’s crawling underfoot in Arizona that could cause a sting more painful than a bee sting? Arizona fire ants have become a pressing concern due to their aggressive nature and painful bites.
Keep reading to learn more about how these ants affect the environment and what can be done about them.
Key Takeaways
- Fire ants in Phoenix, AZ, can sting painfully and cause allergic reactions, affecting people and pets.
- Fire ants build mounds that damage lawns by disrupting the root systems of grass and other plants.
- Fire ants spread quickly in favorable conditions, making them difficult to control once they settled in.
- Professional help may be needed for large infestations when home treatments don’t work.
How Dangerous Are Fire Ants?
Fire ants in Phoenix, AZ, can cause trouble. Their stings are painful and can lead to allergic reactions, harming lawns and pets. They can also spread quickly, making them a formidable pest.
Painful Reactions
Fire ant species pack a painful sting. When they feel threatened, these ants swarm and sting. Some individuals might experience mild irritation, while allergic reactions can occur in others.
These reactions may range from nausea to difficulty breathing, potentially requiring medical attention.
Damage to Your Lawn And Property
Fire ants are not just troubling because of their stings—they can wreak havoc on landscaping and valuable property. Their colonies, often found in lawns, disrupt outdoor spaces’ aesthetic and functional value.
Mounds become unsightly obstacles, and they can damage grass and other plant life by undoing root systems.
Health Risks To Pets
Pets are not immune to the threats of fire ants. Curious dogs and outdoor cats encountering these ants might receive painful stings.
This can lead to similar allergic reactions in humans, with the potential for significant harm depending on the number of fire ant stings. Signs of distress should prompt a vet visit.
Spreads Quickly
Given favorable conditions, a single colony can expand rapidly. Since they are highly adaptable, these ants can spread their colonies over several feet in just a few weeks.
In Arizona, they often out-compete local ant species, like pavement ants and odorous house ants, colonizing vast property areas.
How to Spot Signs of Fire Ant Dangers on Your Property
Fire ants can cause many challenges, especially in Arizona’s warm climate. Identifying their presence involves recognizing their nests, behaviors like swarming, and the effects of their bites or stings.
1. Raised, Dome-Shaped Mounds
A telltale sign of their presence is the distinctive fire ant nests. Raised, dome-shaped mounds, often several inches high, harbor thousands of worker ants.
2. Watch for Swarms of Ants
Fire ants react defensively when their nests are disturbed. A clear sign of their presence is the swarming of worker ants when you unintentionally disturb their habitat, such as by mowing the lawn.
3. Painful Ant Bites or Stings on You or Your Pets
Another sign of fire ants includes painful bites or stings experienced by humans and pets.
Fire ants latch onto the skin to inject venom, causing blisters and redness. Pets, like cats and dogs, may exhibit discomfort or swelling after interacting with infected areas. Look for irritation, frequent licking, or wounds on your pets.
4. Observe Ant Trails
Fire ants are busy creatures. They work in lines, moving across paths, walls, or inside wall voids. These trails help locate potential entry points to your property.
Unlike sugar ants seeking sweet food sources, they have broader appetites, consuming proteins, fats, and dead insects, making pet food or scraps in your yard attractive.
How to Address Fire Ant Infestations
Fire ant infestations can become a serious issue if left untreated. To safely get rid of them in your Phoenix home, here’s what you need to do about them:
Use Baits to Target the Colony
To keep your Phoenix home ant-free, baits are often practical against fire ant colonies. These baits contain slow-acting active ingredients that ants carry back to their mound. Look for products labeled specifically for fire ants.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for proper use. Avoid applying baits before it rains, which can wash away the product.
Treat Individual Mounds Directly
When you find them particularly tricky to get rid of, treating individual mounds may be necessary. Direct treatments include liquid products or special mound-drenching products. Since these ants can be aggressive, approach mounds with caution.
Wear protective clothing when applying the treatment early in the day. They tend to be less aggressive in cooler morning temperatures. Follow the specific instructions provided with the product to maximize its effectiveness.
Contact a Professional Pest Control Service
When battling large and complex infestations, DIY methods for fire ant control may not be enough. That’s when professional pest control in Phoenix becomes invaluable.
At Green Home Pest Control, our fire ant exterminators specialize in safe pest management for infestations. If you see signs of pests in your Glendale, Phoenix, or Tucson home, we’re here to help.
For more information, schedule a free consultation today.
21 years of pest control experience
Founder and Owner of Green Home Pest Control
13 year resident of Arizona
