Get Rid of Carpenter Ants

Fire ants, also known as red ants, are stinging ants that can be found world wide. Originally imported from South America into Alabama, these ants have spread with relative ease across the entire southern U.S. to become a growing problem for homeowners and farmers. These ants are very resilient and will aggressively defend their nests from any invaders to include humans. Their sting is capable of killing small animals and can be fatal to those humans with severe allergic reactions.

Due to their resiliency, handling fire ants with a mere bait trap will likely be insufficient. That is why researchers out of Texas A&M University invented a special technique to deal with these invasive ants affectionately known as the Texas Two Step. The Texas Two Step as the name implies involves two steps known as broadcasting and drenching.

In step one you "broadcast" a non-toxic bait insecticide. Spread this insecticide in close proximity to the fire ant nests as well as their food source. The foragers will take the bait insecticide back to their nest and spread it into the general ant population. Over time a significant portion of the ants will eat the insecticide to include the queen ant. As a result the queen will become infertile or may die. This reduces the proliferation of the ants as the queen will no longer be able to lay eggs. This step should be performed during times of peak foraging activity in either the summer or fall. That will help ensure that the bait insecticide has the most prolific effect.

In step two you follow up the "broadcast" with a "drenching" using an organic liquid insecticide. This liquid insecticide should be applied liberally to each and every nest in your purview. This second treatment will effectively kill the remaining ants that survived the initial application of the bait insecticide. Fire ant nests are often hidden from plain sight under logs or similar obstructions so it is imperative that you locate and apply this final step directly to each nest or the ants will simply regroup to form a new nest in a new location. An alternative to the liquid insecticide is 2-3 gallons of boiling water. This will kill the ants that remain but is much less effective than the liquid insecticide. The boiling water also has the tendency to kill other vegetation such as grass or plants, so the organic liquid insecticide is generally the preferred method. This step can wait until after the winter months have subsided entering into the spring months. This will effectively eliminate the ants before they ramp up for peak activity during the summer months.

Follow these two steps and you should win a knockout victory and rid yourself of fire ants with a well executed one, two punch!

Author: Jerry M

Getting rid of ants can be a challenge for even the best exterminator. Jerry M. brings you more tips and tricks for getting rid of all common ant breeds: fire ants, carpenter ants, pharaoh ants, and more!

http://www.helphowtogetridofants.blogspot.com

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Fire ants also known as red ants are one of the must aggressive and violent insects, and they will attack almost everything that can possibly threaten and harm them and their colony. Not many people know that the fire ants are an important member of the hymenoptera order in which you can find also insects such as bees and wasps.

The most awful and long-lasting bite it is possessed by the South American Bullet ant, and can cause great sufferings and pains, but it is not causing death.

The most deadly ant bite from Australia is the Jack Jumper ant bite that can easily kill animals and even humans.

The most agonizing and burning ant bites, are possessed only by two types of fire ants

The most aggressive and violent ant bite is held by the Red Imported ants. Their highly deadly poisonous blow contains a highly toxic substance called piperidine alkaloids. The blows can produce on the skin awful white fluid filled bumps.

The bites of the Southern Fire ants can easily produce itchiness and blisters that are usually very painful and annoying.

Although ants are considered as been one of the most important threats for the modern society we live in now, there are still used in many ways. Their destructive behavior that have been to us our enemy it can become our friend, because in many parts of the entire world ants are use to control other threat full insect populations such as the carpenter, pharaoh and argentine ants.

The home-made antidote for ants and ant bites

In order to have an ant proof home, the first thing you need to do is to seal up all the cracks and crevices, especially the little ones, from where ant can easily break in the home and infest you and your family.

Keep all the time of the year your lawns mowed and clean your garden.

Mint is a very powerful insecticide, so you can plant mint inside and outside your home as well.

You can put on your windows and doors solutions based on citronella, citrus, cinnamon or even peppermint, combined with water.

You can also use non-toxic powders that you can find in specialized stores all around the world, such as the Diatomaceous Earth, that can easily destroy exoskeletons, but take care when you use this product. It will be indicated to use a mask for a better protection.

Another old method of cleaning your home by ants and their painful ant bites is to pour boiling water on the ant hill. It can be effective in some cases, but it can make them only retreat temporarily and after that they will come and attack very violent and aggressive.

Author: Keith Mill

Now you need Fire Ants Treatment to take the ‘fire’ out of fire ant bites. More information about First Aid here will definitely help you.

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Fire ant bites are no fun. If you live in an area populated with fire ants, there’s a 40% chance you’ll get bit. When they bite, they have a burning sensation, hence the "fire" ant. They tend to crawl around on your skin for at least 10 seconds before they make their first sting. That can be a real problem because you could have lots of them crawling on you and you don’t know it until they all start biting at once! Alkaloid venom is injected into your skin via the fire ant’s stinger. They will continue to bite you, even after their venom sac is emptied.

People React Differently

The reaction to a fire ant sting is different for every person. In general, the bite is itchy, becomes inflamed, and is filled with a white pustule. It is best to not scratch them open, as this may cause infection or permanent scarring. They usually take a couple of weeks to completely disappear. And they may itch the whole time.

Allergic Reactions

If you happen to be amongst the 15% of people allergic to fire ant stings, take extreme caution when around them. Symptoms of an allergic reaction are chest pains, swelling, dizziness, shock, or some cases a coma. There are a few extreme and rare cases of death caused by fire ant stings. Get to the emergency room immediately if you experience any of these symptoms. Don’t hesitate to call an ambulance.

If You Are Stung

If you are stung by a fire ant, there are a few things you can do to help reduce the pain and itching, chance of infection, and the need for further medical attention.

• Move away from the nest to prevent more bites.
• Remove all clothes as soon as you can. (There may be ants still in them.)
• Wash the affected area with cold soapy water.
• Ice the affected area to calm swelling.
• Use alcohol to disinfect the area.
• Use a cortisone or similar topical cream to prevent infection, itchiness, and pain.
• Be careful not to open the bite blisters.

Natural Treatments

If you prefer to use a more natural product to treat your fire ant bites, we’ve had lots of suggestions from people. They are worth a try if you don’t like the thought of putting unnatural substances on you body. Here’s a list of suggestions:

• Meat tenderizer and water (thick paste)
• Baking soda and water (thick paste)
• Salt (thick paste)
• Alternately apply for five minutes: cotton ball soaked in ammonia, followed by a cotton ball soaked in peroxide. Continue for 20 minutes.
• Crushed aspirin (thick paste)
• Ammonia
• Aloe jell
• Tea Tree oil (may also be good for other insect bites, such as, chiggers, fleas and mosquitoes)
• Fresh piece of onion
• Bleach and water (half and half)
• Dishwashing liquid

Author: Barbie Bowen

Author: Barbie Bowen

Read lots more information about fire ants: How did they get here? See pictures of fire ant bites. What do ant mounds look like? How can you get rid of them without using toxic chemicals? To get all these answers and more, go to http://www.fireant.net/index.php.

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Fire Ant Bites

The fire ant sting typically causes red hive-like lesions that burn and itch. Painful pus-filled lesions can also occur. Cold packs, pain relievers, and antihistamines can help relieve the discomfort.

Fire Ant Bites Treatments

Fire ant stings can be very painful. If you have ever been stung by a fire ant, you know the pain and burning that is associated with the fire ant “sting”. Fire ant bites are different from wasp or bee stings in that a single worker ant .

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Fire ants are considered a notorious pest and can sometimes be life threatening. Two main species of fire ants, namely black imported solenopsis rchteri gorel and red ants solenopsis invicta buren are responsible for causing wide spread damage to crops, cattle and humans. The term imported fire ant stems from the fact that two species were fortuitously imported to the United States in the 1930’s from South America.

A fire ant’s sting can cause a sever allergic reaction lasting up to 10 days, at times posing a serious threat to life. Fire ants also adversely affect the ecosystem. Ants and several invertebrates are actually vital to the eco-system, as they aid in mixing and aerating the soil.

There are several reasons for the rapid spread of the imported fire ants. They have an extremely active reproductive capacity and can have several queens reproducing aggressively in a single colony. The queen cans transverse over a great distance before establishing a colony. In areas where the natural invertebrate predators are more powerful, fire ants may pose less of a problem. However, when humans cultivate or develop an area, the natural competing enemies of fire ants are eliminated and they reproduce rapidly.

Fire ants usually colonize inconspicuously in open sunny areas in mounts. They also colonize in walls of buildings, rotting wood, etc. Fire ants have omnivorous feeding habits and can consume only liquid or solids that are converted to liquid by regurgitating digestive enzymes. Quarantine measures have been introduced by the United States to safeguard areas that have not yet been infested.

Author: Josh Riverside

Ants provides detailed information on Ants, Fire Ants, Carpenter Ants, Ant Farms and more. Ants is affiliated with Cave Crickets.

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Fire Ants Attack

Fire ants (Solenopsis) are an invasive species in the US, and they’re a big problem here in Florida – there are no less than two nests in my backyard at any given time. Their hunger for new territory and their proclivity towards violence has resulted in conflict on more than one occasion.

Fire Ants

"They’re getting everywhere – it’s a disaster. It could even mean that for some species the ants stop evolution." Fire ants are known to attack baby birds and young tortoises and their march from one island to another seems inexorable.

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