There’s nothing worst than pests in and around your home. However, if it’s fire ants you’re dealing with, you also need to worry about you or your kids being bitten.
Fire ant bites can cause red, itchy bumps and lesions which can be both uncomfortable and painful. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for fire ant bites to trigger life-threatening allergic reactions, either.
The key is learning how to keep them out and away from your home. We’re here to help.
Keep reading for our top tips on how to prevent (or get rid of) fire ants.
1. Find and Eliminate Ant Colonies
Fire ants are notorious for their mounds. However, it’s important to note that the fire ant mounds rarely provide entry into the colony. The access points are typically in the immediate surrounding area.
To eliminate fire ant colonies, set up poison bate near the mound. The foragers will take this bait deep into the colony where it will hopefully reach the queen(s). Then, treat the mound and the surrounding area with insecticide.
2. Keep All Food Items Sealed
To keep fire ants and most other pests out of your home, it can be as simple as making sure you’re not providing them with free meals. Ants have incredibly keen senses of smell and will find the smallest crumbs over great distances to bring back to their colonies.
Make sure you clean up any food messes in the house. Don’t leave anything as insignificant as a crumb or even sticky residue from spilt soda. This includes sealing up pet food in containers with lids, even if you keep it in the garage.
3. Take Care of Excess Moisture and Water Leaks
Fire ants are also attracted to water sources. A leaky pipe, faucet, or outside spigot will create water deposits that ants and other pests are drawn to. Like us, they depend on water to live.
It’s also important to make sure there aren’t any places where water collects after rainfall. This is especially important for areas in and around the house. Ideally, you want to keep bugs out of your yard as much as possible.
4. Use Natural Insecticides Around the House
We understand that you don’t want to use harsh chemicals inside your house if you can help it. In this case, we recommend using a natural fire ant killer. You can line in near common entry points such as doors and windows.
Natural insecticides include lemon water, diatomaceous earth, cayenne pepper, dish soap, and a solution of water and vinegar.
5. Seal Off Possible Entry Points
Finally, make sure you’re not making it easy for fire ants to gain entry into your home. Seal up cracks in the doorway and at window sills. There may also be cracks, gaps, or holes in your siding. Use a weatherproof sealer like silicone to make the necessary fixes.
Having Problems With Fire Ants?
If you have fire ants in your home, you need to take care of the problem as soon as possible. Colonies grow rapidly and can quickly create a serious problem in your home. If you’re not sure what you’re doing or want to make sure the problem is taken care of as quickly and effectively as possible, we can help.
Contact us today and let us know what you’re dealing with.
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