Controlling fire ants what works what doesn t.
Fire ants in attic.
It s a rule here in the south.
Ants could damage your attic in as few as six months.
Fire ants are several species of ants in the genus solenopsis they are however only a minority in the genus which includes over 200 species of solenopsis worldwide solenopsis are stinging ants and most of their common names reflect this for example ginger ants and tropical fire ants many species also are called red ants because of their light brown color though species of ants in many.
The good news here is that the ants are visible to you and they are still going outdoors to forage which means they will walk through areas that that you treat outdoors.
Carpenter ants have built a reputation for shaving through wood making holes and tunnels that damage it.
Fire ants are small dark reddish brown insects measuring about 3 8ths of an inch as adults.
Ants in the walls.
Following a heavy rain on sunday on monday your yard becomes a death zone dotted with little red clay volcanoes fire ant mounds teeming with satanic assassins just itching to sting you and any other animal they can find.
Fire ants do not just cause inconvenience but they can also be harmful to both animals and humans.
When ants do this to your attic structures it could significantly compromise its stability and your roof could cave in any.
Depending upon distribution and cold weather conditions ants may be as likely to nest outdoors as indoors especially in many parts of the warmer more southerly portions of their distribution also the preferred indoors locations and food preferences of the ants listed below may vary to some degree since there is a lot of species specific variability among ants.
They also avoid darkness and shade and are more likely to appear in open fields and lawns than in forests.
Their mounds can be as large as 18 cm tall and 61 cm wide and can be dome shaped.
Fire ants are least active during the hottest hours of the day.
Even though we love spring and summer bugs and other pests always find their way inside our homes.
My guess is they are living in your attic or wall and moving all that crap out of the attic into your bathroom sill.
A single ant colony could have as many as 50 000 individuals.
If you suspect that you have a red fire ant infestation it is important to consult a professional as treatment methods may vary depending on the species.
Their appearance can be difficult to distinguish from many other native ant species.
While it would be unusual to have an entire colony in your attic it is not unheard of.
Fire ants build visible soil mounds often in sunny areas.
Somewhere outside of their nest.
Fire ants are being pushed out of areas by other ant species but also with all of the rain this year critters are heading inside where it is warm because of being too damp outside.
Ants will build nests where ever they can find a suitable area to do so.
