The Best Way to Avoid Fire Ants in Fort Myers

Living in Florida offers plenty of sunshine and beaches, but it also means dealing with fire ants. These pests thrive in our humid, warm environment, quickly taking over yards by creating mounds and delivering painful stings. Reducing and preventing fire ant activity is easier than you think. Let’s breakdown everything you need to know about fire ants.

Understanding Fire Ants

Fire ants are known for their painful stings and aggressive behavior if they feel threatened, often stinging multiple times. If stung, these pests will inject venom that causes a burning and itching sensation, and in some cases will cause allergic reactions.

Fire ants can vary in size, ranging from 1/8 to ¼ inch and have reddish-brownish bodies. You’ll often see fire ants building their large, dome-shaped mounds in areas that are open and sunny, such as lawns, pastures, and along roads. These mounds can reach up to 18 inches in height!

Preventing Fire Ants from Your Yard

Deterring fire ants away from your property is the first step to avoiding an infestation. Consider these DIY fire ant prevention tips:

• Keep your lawn maintained by mowing the grass and removing debris regularly to reduce fire ant activity.
• Avoid over-watering your lawn, as fire ants are attracted to moist environments.
• If you’re eating outdoors, make sure to clean up any food crumbs and drink spills as soon as possible.
• If you have fruit trees, make sure to remove any rotten fruit or fruit that has fallen on the ground.
• Repair any leaking faucets, hoses, or irrigation systems in your yard.
• Consider applying insecticide barriers around the perimeter of your property to deter fire ants from entering.

If you’ve spotted one too many fire ant mounds on your property, call a pest control company near you. These experts will provide you with an inspection, fire ant control plan, and prevention tips to avoid an ant infestation in the future.