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Small red ants in your house? You may have fire ants
So you've discovered your lovely home is being overtaken by fire ants? Don't panic! Western is here to offer you some sound advice as we've been evicting these tiny invaders from our customers' homes for nearly a century.
While getting rid of fire ants can be a difficult undertaking using do-it-yourself methods, a trained pest control professional can eliminate an infestation with an effective treatment. As you likely know, fire ants earn their namesake for the rather painful bites and stings they can inflict.
Western Exterminator technicians can help you with fire ants and other ants around your home or business. Contact us today to find out how we can help you get rid of fire ants and prevent them from returning.
Schedule an inspection today!How can you tell if you have fire ants?
There are several signs that the ants you have might be fire ants. Red imported fire ants are very small, reddish/brown in color. They tend to stay outside, preferring to stay far away from people in the nearby homes. However, in their search for food, they can come indoors through even the tiniest of openings.
If you've spotted red ants in your home, don't automatically assume they are fire ants. While, yes, fire ants are typically red, they can also be black, especially the black male reproductives.
Red imported fire ants build mounds in the yard. These mounds look like hills of loose dirt. Unlike some other ants, there will not be a central hole near the top. Be cautious, however, since any perceived threat to the nest will cause hundreds of fire ants to swarm out of the mound and attack!
Interested in learning more about ants? Check out our comprehensive guide: Everything you should know about ants.
Common places where fire ants live
Fire ants can invade your home and cause big problems. Fire ants like to live in warm, hidden places, which can make it hard to find them. These ants are small, but their stings can hurt, and they can quickly spread to different parts of your house.
Kitchens
Kitchens are a prime target for nuisance fire ants because they’re always looking for food. If there are crumbs on the floor, a sticky spill on the counter, or food left out on the table, fire ants will quickly find it. Once they find food, they leave a trail behind to lead other ants to the same spot.
Fire ants can hide in small cracks and gaps around the kitchen or even under your appliances like the refrigerator or stove. These areas are hard to reach, making it difficult to get rid of the ants once they’ve settled in.
Keeping your kitchen clean and sealing up cracks in the walls and floors can help prevent fire ants from getting in.
Apartments
Fire ants often invade apartments, especially in older buildings where there are cracks and gaps around baseboards and walls. These tiny openings can make it easy for ants to get inside. Sometimes, fire ants even build their nests inside the walls, which makes them harder to detect and remove.
In walls
Fire ants can build nests inside the walls of your home or apartment. They can enter through tiny cracks or holes in the drywall, around windows, or even through electrical outlets. These hidden nests can be difficult to find, and by the time you notice, the ants may have already built large colonies. They can create piles of dirt and debris as they dig their tunnels.
Types of fire ants found indoors
Ant species that are commonly confused with fire ants include Western harvester ants and pharaoh ants (Monomorium pharaonis). Besides their coloring, fire ants can be identified by their 10-segmented antenna, spineless thorax, and distinctive mandibles.
However, it is very difficult for a non-professional to 100% identify fire ants. If in doubt, contact your local Western Exterminator office for assistance.
There are two main problem fire ant species in the U.S. that you should know: red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) and southern fire ants (Solenopis xyloni).
Red imported fire ants
Red imported fire ants (or sometimes referred to as RIFA) have become a growing concern for homeowners as the highly aggressive, non-native species are known to build giant colonies of up to 100,000 members located deep in the soil.
Southern fire ants
Southern fire ants are active in California and extend east to the Atlantic coast. They typically build loose mounds near trees and come out in large numbers when mounds are disturbed. Southern fire ants prey on other pest species but are considered a threat due to their capacity to sting and damage properties.
How to get rid of fire ants
Getting rid of any type of ant can be tricky. Professional pest control is the best option for infestations. Our experts have the knowledge and expertise needed to locate fire ant colonies and help remove them. To help prevent ants from coming back, seal any cracks and gaps around your home, especially in the kitchen and along baseboards. Cleaning up food spills and crumbs right away will also help keep ants from finding food.
While it may be tempting to try DIY ant control methods, professional pest control is the best way to make sure all the fire ants are gone. Western Exterminator’s ant control professionals can look at your property and discern if the ants that are inside your home or in your yard are fire ants. If you think there is even a chance you might have fire ants, it's better to call in the professionals than to try and take care of the problem yourself.
- Western Exterminator’s fire ant technicians have the right equipment and protection gear to help get rid of fire ants.
- Our integrated pest management approach uses the least amount of chemical treatment possible.
- After treatment, your technician will discuss ways to help prevent them from returning.
What attracts fire ants?
Fire ants are a pest you do not want inside your home or building. Their tendency for aggression and ability to sting means they can even be dangerous to have around, especially for those with allergies to stings. What are the things that really attract fire ants? The list includes:
- Cleanliness - Fire ants look for scraps and having garbage around your home is a way to attract them. Clean up the kitchen and floors, making sure all food is up and out of the reach from the fire ants.
- Holes in exterior walls - Fire ants are not very big. There may be a lot of them, but the tiny ants can get inside through small holes in exterior walls from broken siding or vents in brick. Even holes in the walls from utility cables can create enough space for fire ants to get through. Make sure door sweeps are installed on exterior doors and garage doors.
- Food storage - Fire ants share some of the same characteristics as other ants. Ants want to find food to bring back to the rest of their colony. If you have food such as pet food stored indoors, make sure the food is sealed up tight.
- Moisture issues - Fire ants don’t always need soil, but they do require a certain level of moisture to survive. Fire ants can sometimes end up in weird places like rooftops and wall voids. If you live in an area where you have a lot of fire ants, you should make sure leaks are repaired around your home and inspect the pipes within the walls.
Be careful when bringing things in from the outside. Fire ants can hitch rides indoors from plants, mulch, outdoor toys, and other objects that might be on a front or rear lawn.
Why are fire ants a problem?
Fire ants are a problem because they are more dangerous than other types of ants. Not only can they destroy vegetation, but they can also be dangerous to people and damage things around your home.
Destruction of vegetation
This year more than 300 million acres will be infested by fire ants, destroying crops and ruining natural habitats for wildlife. Since being introduced to the U.S. in the 1930s, RIFA have had an increasingly negative impact on the agriculture industry. RIFA has been a bigger problem in the southeastern United States but southern California has had its fair share of RIFA-related problems.
Fire ant attacks
Attacks on humans by colonies of fire ants have become a growing concern in the U.S. Reports of non-responsive residents like elderly or infants in healthcare facilities being attacked by fire ants are on the rise. Fire ants will gain access often to buildings through HVAC systems. A few isolated incidents have resulted in fatalities.
Fire ant bites
The venom from a fire ant sting is strong and produces a burning feeling. When a fire ant stings you, it can be painful around the bite. In the case of a serious allergic reaction, seek medical attention as soon as possible. You may also experience swelling and itching, and blisters filled with pus may appear and exist for several days. If you are allergic to the venom of fire ants, you may have trouble breathing and experience throat swelling.
Fire ants sting by gripping the person they are stinging with their mandibles and then repeatedly plunging their stinger into the victim. They are venomous, and the effects range from rashes and red bumps to nausea to more serious reactions.
Electrical malfunctions
Fire ants have been known to cause electrical malfunctions as some species are attracted to electrical machinery like air conditioners or even traffic signals. Fire ants swarming an electrical device will cause damage when one ant is shocked, releasing a pheromone that attracts more and more ants.
Small, red ant control methods
Red ants should be treated early on in the summer as colonies are in a growth phase and will only continue to grow in size.
Due to fire ants’ penchant for attacking in large numbers, we always discourage customers from attempting to treat fire ant mounds themselves but to rely on a pest control professional that is trained to remove the infestation safely.
- It is best to apply treatments around the mounds as opposed to directly on fire ant mounds to avoid disturbing the ants within.
- If the grass around the mounds is wet, it can limit the effectiveness of the treatment, so it is best to wait until the grass is dry.
- Late afternoon is the best time to apply treatments for fire ants as during the day, colonies are out foraging for food.
Western Exterminator fire ant and pest control specialists are experts in helping get rid of many different kinds of pests, including red ants, and we are experts in pest prevention. Contact us and find out what we can do to help get rid of pests around your home.
Professional vs. DIY methods for dealing with fire ants
When it comes to dealing with fire ants, professional pest control is the best option, especially for larger infestations. Professionals like Western Exterminator have the expertise to fully identify the extent and sources of an infestation, and have access to more effective treatment methods to help eliminate the entire colony.
Preventing fire ants
How can you avoid fire ant infestations in the first place? The best recipe for annual fire ant issues is to have a treatment around your home applied early on in the season so it becomes much easier to keep infestations under control. Eliminating a large fire ant colony in August is much more difficult than a small ant colony in May.
There are also a number of steps you can talk to make your home less fire ant friendly, including:
- Keep floors clean of crumbs by regularly vacuuming and wiping up spills
- Clean up after pets as leftover pet food is often cited as a cause of ant infestations
- If you keep a compost bin in your garden, make sure it is tightly sealed
- Keep all your food and cooking materials tightly sealed as fire ants are seeking accessible food sources
Interested in learning more about pests? Get schooled in pest knowledge by visiting Mr. Little's Classroom. And if you have a problem with fire ants around your home, contact us and schedule an appointment with one of our specialists today.
For more information, see our article on how to keep ants away from your home.
Fire ant control near you
Fire ants are common in Western U.S. states such as Arizona, California and Nevada. They can be a real problem in front and back yards for homes and businesses in cities such as Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix, Las Vegas and other cities in climates which are warm throughout the year. This makes fire ants a year-round problem.
Whether you’re dealing with fire ants, Argentine ants, odorous house ants or carpenter ants, Western Exterminator are the experts who can get rid of fire ants and prevent them from returning.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get rid of red ants inside my home?
To get rid of red ants inside your home, it’s best to contact professional pest control. Experts can identify the source of the infestation and use effective sprays, repellents, baiting and tailored treatments to eliminate the ants thoroughly. Professional ant control ensures long-lasting results and helps prevent future invasions.
Is there a natural way to get rid of fire ants?
Not really. Natural methods like boiling water, diatomaceous earth, or peppermint oil can help keep fire ant populations away, but once they’re inside your home, it’s best to call professional pest control to get rid of them completely.
What's the difference between red ants and fire ants?
Fire ants are a specific type of red ant known for their painful stings and aggressive behavior. While both are reddish in color, fire ants have a more aggressive nature and build large mounds in open areas, while red ants tend to be less aggressive.
Should I worry about red ants?
Red ants generally aren’t dangerous unless they’re a specific type, like fire ants, which can sting. If you have fire ants in your home or yard, it’s best to address the issue quickly as their stings can cause allergic reactions.
How do I keep red ants out of my room?
To keep red ants out of your room, seal cracks and gaps around windows and doors. Store food in sealed containers, clean up crumbs right away, and make sure all crevices are closed.
What does it mean when red ants are in your house?
Red ants in your house usually mean they are looking for food or water. If you notice them in large numbers, it may indicate that there’s a nest nearby. They might also be searching for shelter, especially during seasonal changes.
Why do red ants suddenly appear?
Red ants can suddenly appear in your house when they’re searching for food or water. Changes in weather, such as heavy rain or heat, can also force ants to look for new places to nest. They may also be drawn to food spills or crumbs.