How To Treat Fire Ant Bites

Fire ants are basically ants that sting and there are more than 285 species of them on the planet. They have the body of a typical ant, with a head, thorax, and abdomen, a pair of antennae, and three pairs of legs. To distinguish them from other kinds of ants, look at the head. The head of a fire ant is copper brown, while the body features a darker abdomen. Worker ants in this category appear black to red and range in size from 0.12 to 0.24 inches.

A fire ant colony creates large mounds in areas that are moist and relatively open, feeding on seeds, young plants, and even crickets. In other areas, the nest is not visible, being built under bricks, rocks, or logs. Unlike other biting ants, this type bites to secure a grip and then stings, injecting solenopsin, which is a toxic alkaloid venom that is both antibiotic and insecticidal.

A sting from a fire ant is painful for a human, creating a sensation that is similar to being burned by fire, thus the nickname. The area around the bite may become itchy, red, and painful. Blisters may appear, lasting between three and ten days, followed by scabs. Consequences can be much more serious for sensitive people, sometimes resulting in a swollen throat, difficulty breathing, racing heart, and even death. The fire ant also sometimes attack small animals and can kill them.

Since these insects are small and their nests are often unseen, it is easy for people and animals to fall prey to them. According to one source, these ants sting more children annually than all other insects combined. Children are often not aware of how dangerous the insects can be, letting their curiosity get the best of them. Fortunately, children are not usually allergic to the bites.

Education is the primary way to prevent children from being bitten by a fire ant. Teaching children to avoid insects that look like ants as well as their mounds can prevent a bite. Bait designed for this type of ant can be effective at controlling colonies outdoors during spring and early summer. Once the weather becomes hotter and drier, baits are often ineffective. The only way to eliminate a colony is to kill the queen and granular bait is a popular product.

The fastest way to destroy a colony and prevent a bite is to drench the mount with a cypermethrin solution. People and animals should be kept out of the area until the soil has dried. Broadcasting granules throughout a wide area is a technique used in fields or other large areas. After the granules are applied, the area is watered to adhere the granules to the soil surface for ants to transport.