Floating fire ants are native to South America but have crawled into the United States decades ago. These fire ants form one big clump by clinging to each other so they can freely float amid the floodwaters.
When they’ve managed to cling on to one another and form a raft, these fire ants can survive for weeks until they reach a dry surface. When they have found dry land, they start to hunt for a place to build a new colony.
Fire ants in your yard or home can be very alarming. They are difficult to control. Luckily, there are many ways to deal with fire ants, but of course, it’s essential to be careful when attempting to get rid of them.
If you deal with the fire ants on your own, you could be at risk of being bitten and poisoned by their venom. Keep yourself safe. Know how to deal with fire ants so you are spared from stings or dangerous insect bites..
How Fire Ants Float On Water
Fire ants float on water by linking their legs to form a raft. This allows them to drift to a new and dry place to re-establish their colony.
The waxy exterior of their bodies expels water and causes them to float. This keeps them together and prevents them from sinking. Similarly, the waxy exterior of their bodies also allows them to survive for days. They can be afloat in water or scurry into the dry areas of land.
How To Deal With Floating Fire Ants And Their Colony During Flood
When you see ants floating in the water during a flood, keep these in mind:
- If you are in a rowboat, do not attempt to shoo them away with the oars. The ants can quickly climb onto the oar and into the boat.
- When in flood water, use cuffed gloves, rain gear, and rubber boots to ensure that the ants don’t get anywhere close to your skin.
- When fire ants cling to the skin, it is extremely difficult to get them off. Pressurized washers and water hoses can’t remove them.
- In emergency cases, sink them by using a water and dishwashing liquid solution. It is a mix of two ounces dishwashing liquid soap and one gallon water.
How To Deal With Floating Fire Ants And Their Colony After Flood
Even after a flood, fire ants are underneath anything. When cleaning up, be very careful of what you pick up, especially debris that has been lying around and untouched for several days. They may not be immediately visible due to their size and color. Sometimes, they have a tendency to camouflage with leaves, logs, and other post-flood debris.
Remember to:
- Wear boots, socks, gloves, long pants, and long-sleeved shirts.
- Spray DEET-containing insect repellent on your shoes and lower pants legs. DEET helps keep them away from climbing onto you, but won’t repel them when they’re defending their colony.
- When using a shovel or any similar tool, dust it with a thick layer of talcum powder. Ants can not climb on surfaces that have been dusted with talcum powder.
- Avoid ant contact at any cost. If you see a pile of ants, spray them with household ant killer products that contain pyrethrins or pyrethrum derivatives (tetramethrin or allethrin).
Alternative Methods in Dealing with Floating Fire Ants |
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| Natural Methods | Preserve native ant colonies. These types of ants compete with the fire ants with territory. They are a natural way to get rid of fire ants.
You may also try pouring boiling hot water on the ant mounds, especially if there are fire ants close to the mound. Approximately three gallons of boiling hot water will get rid of 60% of the ants. |
| Organic Methods | Use part water and part organic dishwashing liquid soap to sink fire ants. The soap melts the oily/waxy exteriors of their body.
Plant-based insecticides that have Pyrethrins are a very effective way to kill fire ants in minutes. Another way to organically kill fire ants is by adding crushed citrus fruit peels to mound drenches. There is a substance in the citrus fruit oil (d-limonene) that kills fire ants, making it an effective yet organic way to get rid of fire ants. |
| Alternative Methods | You can use insecticides specifically for killing fire ants like Ortho Orthene Fire Ant Killer. |
The lack of knowledge in using insecticides to deal with floating fire ants can be dangerous and hazardous. Visit Pest Guide now to know more about dealing with insects.
Pro Tip:Floating fire ants get agitated and aggressive when disturbed. The first few that sting a person gives off pheromone signals to other ants to do the same. Be careful in dealing with them as they may swarm all over you. |
How to Deal With Floating Fire Ants With PestGuide
Don’t rely on what you see and you don’t see. If you don’t see them it doesn’t mean that they’re not there. They could be hidden in places that are not visible and easily accessible to humans. Be very keen on also listening to the areas where ant nests could possibly thrive.
If you feel that the sounds they’re making are quite difficult to catch, tap on the wood to disturb them and increase their activity. An increased ant activity will result in an increased rustling sound.
However, you should research more on using the right insecticides and control approaches as the lack of knowledge can result in contamination of the environment, ineffective control methods, and misuse of insecticides. The safest way is to let the professionals deal with the floating fire ants for you.
Find out more safe and effective ways to deal with floating fire ants by contacting Pest Guide.
FAQs on Dealing with Floating Fire Ants |
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How long can fire ants float?Most fire ants survive up to 12 days of staying afloat when they are dry and not exterminated. Some ants will only survive a few days especially when they have been sunk with soapy water or other organic insecticides. |
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What happens when fire ants are submerged in water? |
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| When fire ants are submerged in water, they collect bubbles from different water debris and use those to break the surface and lift themselves off the water. Worker ants move around the raft to make sure that no one is submerged in the water for a long time. | |
Is it safe to use insecticides in dealing with floating fire ants after a flood? |
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| It is safe to use insecticides on floating fire ants, but do this with extreme caution. Use protective gear as sometimes, accidents happen. Protective gear avoids the chemicals that come in contact with your eyes and skin. |