Ah hell no! Me, I'll take spiders any day over fire ants! I hate them little bastards! Every time one bites me I kill every fire ant in my yard! They don't even have to bite me for me to kill them!



Alabama officials are warning residents to be on the lookout for mounds of floating fire ants that could form in floodwaters as Tropical Storm Cindy makes its way inland. 

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System said in a warning Wednesday that the floodwaters will not kill the state's invasive fire ant population. The ant colonies can emerge from the soil and band together in a loose ball, which can float on the surface of the water.
"Floating colonies can look like ribbons, streamers or a ball of ants floating on the water," the statement said. "These amoeba-like masses contain all of the colonies’ members—worker ants, brood (eggs, larvae, pupae), winged reproductive males and females, and queen ants." 
And while it may sound like something out of a horror movie, floating fire ants often happen after flooding events. In October 2015, after a 1-in-1,000-year event ravaged South Carolina, several photographers captured what appeared to be mounds of floating fire ants. Months earlier, following deadly flooding in Texas, residents also reported seeing droves of ants in flooded yards.
The red imported fire ant is known for its bite, which can cause small blisters that burn and itch. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System warned people to avoid the floating mounts at all cost, and not to touch the mounds with oars or any items that the ants could attach to. 
In a 2015 interview, Tim Davis, an entomologist and Clemson University senior extension agent, told USA TODAY the floating technique by fire ants has been used for eons to escape flooding and migrate long distances. 
In under two minutes, fire ants can link together to assemble floating rafts, Davis told USA TODAY Network.
“If the water rises, they kind of all grab a hold of each other, and they can do this for several days, until they reach higher ground,” Davis said.  
Davis said it's not uncommon to come across the rafts of floating ants, and said they have even been found indoors after a flooding event. He said it's important for people to stay out of the flood waters and avoid the masses of ants at all cost. 
“If one of those rafts comes in contact with you, or you try to break it apart, it will likely disperse and crawl up you," he said. 

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/...6S?OCID=ansmsnnews11

So what you're saying is, Alabama needs to be set on fire?

quote:

Originally posted by bobtheelf:
So what you're saying is, Alabama needs to be set on fire?

It's too wet to burn right now.

Bite or sting?

Bite and sting.

quote:

Originally posted by bobtheelf:
So what you're saying is, Alabama needs to be set on fire?

Pretty much!

Kill It With Fire!!!

Or

Nuke It From Orbit... It's The Only Way To Be Sure!!!

H&K-Guy

quote:

Originally posted by fgwilliams1:

quote:

Originally posted by bobtheelf:
So what you're saying is, Alabama needs to be set on fire?

It's too wet to burn right now.

2 words.....WHITE PHOSPHORUS

Willy Pete will burn all the way to the bottom of the ocean! Or so I've been told. Should work on fire ants!

That's...

kind of horrifying.

Spray bottle with gas, instant death!

Sounds like they are nasty little bastids.

This is why I am glad I live in a state that has something akin to a real winter. I sure as hell don't want those little bastards up here.

quote:

Originally posted by fgwilliams1:

quote:

Originally posted by bobtheelf:
So what you're saying is, Alabama needs to be set on fire?

It's too wet to burn right now.

That's the damn truth!

RMD

Perfect time to scorch the entire colony while its out in the open. Spray the raft with kerosene & ignite!

We're downhill from Alabama. So that's how those damn fireants ended up here in the panhandle!

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:
Bite or sting?

Yes.

they bite and hold on, and then spin in a circle with their head in the center - stinging you as they go around...

If they don't get smushed, you'll see a characteristic circle of spots around the bite...

Asian needle ants are another bad one.

In both cases, they might bite to get a grip, but the venom comes from a sting.

Fire ants sting contains Formica acid, if you can apply a base soon after the sting you will neutralize the acid and stop the reaction and most of the pain. Ammonia is a base, that is what is in the product "After Bite" it destroys the acid and reduces the reaction, but you have to apply it before the swelling walls off the acid. An old Doctor told me if you get fire ant bites and it blisters up pop the blisters and apply ammonia or baking soda to neutralize the acid, then apply a antibiotic ointment to lessen the chance of infection. Hope this helps.