Ants
Whether ants are crawling down your kitchen wall or creeping on your floor, we’ve got all grounds covered.
The Damages Caused by Fire Ants
We’ve all seen them; at Zilker Park, 360 Lookout, you name it: fire ant mounds are everywhere! Fire ant stings are usually a surprise. All you have to do is disturb a mound, and within seconds, your shoe is covered. Their stings are some of the most painful of the insect world, and they even have the ability to negatively affect our economy. According to researchers at Texas A&M, the impact of red imported fire ants in the state of Texas alone is estimated to be around $1.2 billion, annually.
How to Prevent Ant Infestations
The reason is not clear, but fire ants seem to be attracted to electrical currents, and cause damage by nesting in places such as electrical junction boxes. Make sure to ask about how we can help you treat your yard from fire ants. In the meanwhile, here are some things you can do to prevent ant infestations in your home:
Eliminate Moisture
Correct moisture problems such as leaky roofs and plumbing. This also means things like replacing rotted, water-damaged, and previously ant-infested wooden parts of the structure.
Paint & Seal
Paint and/or seal exposed wood construction before it becomes wet. Doing this helps eliminate wood/soil contacts.
Remove Dead Wood
Remove dead stumps on the property, and store firewood off the ground and away from the home.
Trim Those Trees
Trim all trees and bushes away from the house.
No prevention technique is foolproof; this is why most people rely on a Pest Control Professional to provide help with treatment.
The Red Imported Fire Ant: What to Know
Though most fire ant species do not bother people and are not invasive, the red imported fire ant (also known as RIFA) is an invasive pest in many areas of the world. In the United States, the FDA estimates that more than $5 billion is spent annually on medical treatments, damages, and control tactics in RIFA-infested areas.
Furthermore, these ants cause approximately $750 million in damage annually to agricultural assets, including vet bills and loss of crops and livestock. Of the 40 million people living in RIFA-infested areas in the United States, it is estimated that 30-60% of them are stung each year. RIFA are currently found mainly in the southeastern United States, though they continue to invade more areas year after year.
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