Think Fire Ants are only an Outside Nuisance? Think Again!

Fire Ants on your grass, sidewalks, parking lots or anywhere on your property pose a real threat to your business. That’s because these are areas where patrons and their children traverse, making them ready targets for fire ants and their stinging bites.

Keep Fire Ants off Your Property

Even worse, fire ants that set up homes in these places can easily enter your establishment through tiny cracks and gaps in your foundation or under door plates. From here they gain access behind baseboards and walls, eventually locating food items inside.

Stings from fire ants usually develop into a tight pustule that itches and burns. Sometimes, the sting site can become infected. And, persons allergic to bee and wasp stings are especially susceptible because they can experience anaphylactic shock from these tiny creatures.

With 2.5 million tons of living fire ants in the Southeast – your property and your customers can easily become a target.

What to do if you suspect you may have fire ants on your property?

• Do not disturb any Fire Ant nests. Any disturbance may encourage the colony to move somewhere else and this can make eradication more difficult.

• Make sure that materials infested with fire ants are not wheeled across your landscape, spreading an infestation.

• Seal cracks and crevices where ants may come inside.

• Employ a professional pest service that can eliminate ants and their nests and prevent future colonies from forming.

If you think you have an ant problem, or want to learn about Massey’s Commercial Pest Prevention, schedule a Free Inspection, or call us at 1-888-2MASSEY (262-7739).

If you just moved down from “Up North” you might not be familiar with fire ants. But just about everyone else “down here” is. First, be careful where you stand. What appears to be a nice, fluffy mound of dirt can, in fact, be a nest of fire ants.

Prevent Fire Ants on your Property.

Secondly, what’s with the name? They’re named “Fire Ants” because the pain from hundreds of cumulative stings feels like your skin is being set on fire. Ouch! The stings from fire ants are quite annoying, each one usually developing into a tight pustule that itches and burns. Unlike a bee that loses its stinger, each fire ant worker can sting again and again until it is brushed away. Sometimes, the sting site can get infected, so treat each wound carefully with appropriate medications. Persons allergic to bee and wasp stings should carry doctor-prescribed medication in advance of being stung to prevent anaphylactic shock.

Winged female fire ants can fly into a yard and land anywhere on the ground to begin another nest. Within a month or two, colonies rapidly build to up to a quarter million ants or more per mound. That’s because each mound can harbor multiple queens that are all prolific egg layers. A well-known fire ant researcher estimates that there may be approximately 2.5 million tons of living fire ants in the Southeast! Areas of the yard where kids and pets roam should be regularly scouted and treated for fire ants.

Fire ants will often try and enter your home through tiny cracks and gaps in the foundation or under door plates to gain access behind baseboards and walls, eventually locating food items inside the home.

If you think you have an ant problem, or want to learn about Massey’s Pest Prevention, schedule a Free Inspection, or call us at 1-888-2MASSEY (262-7739).

Nothing is more natural during the summer than kids playing outdoors. But there are a few common pests that can get in the way of that fun.Here are a few common pests that can be aggravations to you and your kids this summer:

• Fire ants. These are the most dangerous ants you’ll find in your lawn. They deliver painful stings, which can cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylactic shock, in some people. In addition to attacking people, fire ants can also sting your pets.  Be sure to teach your kids not to disturb fire ants or their mounds and have a professional take care of the problem.
• Fleas. In our warm environment, fleas can develop from egg to adult in just 2 weeks. Plus, it’s possible for 10 adult fleas to produce over 250,000 offspring in just a month! While fleas are most often found on animals, they will also jump on humans for a blood meal. In addition to causing itching and discomfort, fleas have also been known to transmit diseases like plague, typhus and tapeworm.
• Mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are more than a summer annoyance;they can also carry harmful diseases. This potential danger makes it important to effectively treat the areas where mosquitoes live and breed, including dense foliage and standing water. To help keep mosquitoes away, be sure to replace all standing water, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants if going out at dusk or dawn. If you can’t avoid being in mosquito-infested areas, use insect repellent containing DEET on exposed skin.

Pests don’t have to spoil your family’s fun this summer. To keep them under control – guaranteed – contact Massey Services for a free,detailed pest inspection.

Fire ants are abundant in the Southeast, where the hot, dry soil and rainy seasons provide everything necessary for them to thrive. Fire ants often set up colonies right next to building structures, with mounds that can reach up to 24″ high. They often get inside your home to forage for food.

Unlike other nuisance insects though, fire ants can pose a hazard because of their painful stings. The venom injected during stinging can be extremely dangerous to certain people, causing serious allergic reactions,including anaphylactic shock. When you see sand mounds developing, contactMassey Services. We’ll provide a thorough, free inspection and a plan to keep fire ants, plus other pests, out of your home.