Fire Ants Kill Winter Texan in the RGV

For informational purposes:

"In the United States, imported fire ants currently inhabit all or parts of Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia." Extension

Link to map:Link

jjjandrbaker wrote:

LynnandCarol wrote:
But in Texas (really anywhere) you must always watch where your feet go!

This is so true. Most of us have developed the art of constantly looking at our feet when standing or sitting anywhere fire ants are likely. It is always best to catch it when there are only one or two ants crawling on your shoes, than to wait for a sting. More often than not, a sting is a harbinger of several more to come. Anyone who has done the fire ant "get nekkid quick" dance, learned the hard way to be vigilant. I once stood on the edge of a pond fishing. I had more than 80 stings by the time my dance was over.

If you had 80 stings, I would say you came out ahead. Twice when I lived in Georgia I took an ambulance ride to the hospital due to fire ants, and in both cases it was less than 10 ants that attacked me and only for a few moments until I could brush them off. Crazy thing is, they tested me and told me it wasn't an allergic reaction - I'm just very susceptible to their toxin. Needless to say, I learned what they look like and keep fire ant poison around all the time.

A good CG will have a commercial pest control program that gets rid of them, even in SE Fla.

jjjandrbaker wrote:

LynnandCarol wrote:
But in Texas (really anywhere) you must always watch where your feet go!

This is so true. Most of us have developed the art of constantly looking at our feet when standing or sitting anywhere fire ants are likely. It is always best to catch it when there are only one or two ants crawling on your shoes, than to wait for a sting. More often than not, a sting is a harbinger of several more to come. Anyone who has done the fire ant "get nekkid quick" dance, learned the hard way to be vigilant. I once stood on the edge of a pond fishing. I had more than 80 stings by the time my dance was over.

Shoulda jumped in the pond. :)

LynnandCarol wrote:
But in Texas (really anywhere) you must always watch where your feet go!

This is so true. Most of us have developed the art of constantly looking at our feet when standing or sitting anywhere fire ants are likely. It is always best to catch it when there are only one or two ants crawling on your shoes, than to wait for a sting. More often than not, a sting is a harbinger of several more to come. Anyone who has done the fire ant "get nekkid quick" dance, learned the hard way to be vigilant. I once stood on the edge of a pond fishing. I had more than 80 stings by the time my dance was over.

So, you either stay north and freeze or go south and get attacked by ants.

Not very good choices.

Although we do it without thinking about it, as it is now a habit for us. But in Texas (really anywhere) you must always watch where your feet go!

A fellow in our park put his knee on the ground while washing his car. He won't do that again. It looks awful.

Johno02 wrote:
Fire ants are not an ant, and do not bite as such. They are a wingless wasp, and have stingers with venom, which is very irritating and painful. In large enough quantities it can kill. single stings jurt like crazy, and can leave a bad sore. I do not know the exact type of venom, or its effects other that it hurts like crazy. Don't know if it ia a neurotoxin or what.

You are confused with what are called Velvet ants. They are the wingless wasp you describe.

Firs ants are ants and in fact they both bite you and sting you.

They bite into your skin to "anchor" themselves and then when the pheromone to sting is released they drive their stingers, located at the rear of their abdomen into your skin. Also the ants sting all at the same time.

There are two major species: Imported Fire and Red Fire Ant. Both are prevalent in the southern U.S. Both have the same behavior and each are just as dangerous as the other.

You don't have to believe me, I only spent 30 years in commercial pest control. Goggle "IFAS fire ants" and there is a world of information there.

Fire ants are not an ant, and do not bite as such. They are a wingless wasp, and have stingers with venom, which is very irritating and painful. In large enough quantities it can kill. single stings jurt like crazy, and can leave a bad sore. I do not know the exact type of venom, or its effects other that it hurts like crazy. Don't know if it ia a neurotoxin or what.