Imported Pests Pose Serious Danger and Problems in the Southeast

Aug. 13, 2009 - PRLog -- Durham, NC – Mosquito and Pest Xperts, the leading service provider for both outdoor and indoor pest control, offers information and advice on fire ants and measures to take to protect yourself, your children and pets.  Red imported fire ants (RIFA) have received much media coverage due to the destruction and pain that they leave behind. Most people cringe at the sight of these unsightly pests, remembering the stories or the experience of the pain that they leave behind on each person or animal that stands in their way. The chance that a person will be bitten in an infested area is as high as 40%. In the U.S. alone, 20 million people are stung by red fire ants each year. They not only sting, but wreck havoc on property. They demolish crops, and can even damage electrical equipment.

Fire ants can look like ordinary house or garden ants. However, there are distinguishing characteristics, such as dark reddish brown heads and bodies, as well as very aggressive behavior. They can cause very painful stings. Experts advise that it is best to have the professional help determine and implement effective solutions.

“Do not try to get rid of fire ants on your own,” warns Paul Salone, owner of Mosquito and Pest Xperts. “These pests pose more of a danger than just painful bites. They are very aggressive and have been known to swarm anyone that they consider an enemy.”  

RIFA may quickly move their whole colony if conditions are unfavorable or if the mound is disturbed. It is not uncommon to see mounds pop up within a few feet of a mound that received a poor and ineffective insecticide or pesticide treatment, according to Salone.

If a homeowner thinks that RIFA might be infesting their property or home, it's imperative that they contact a certified and licensed pest control professional to inspect the situation and confirm identification.  Experts will advise against do-it-yourself options, because ineffective attempts to control RIFA may also have negative health-oriented consequences. Improper do-it-yourself options may result in killing a few ants, while the rest of the colony simply relocates to other areas around and inside the property or structure. It is much more efficient and cost-effective to have a trained set of eyes identify the correct ant species and recommend effective treatment options specific to an individual infestation.

Salone continued by warning that the absence of RIFA mounds should not lull the public into a false sense of safety. During the hot and dry days of summer, the RIFA bury themselves deeper into the ground to protect their brooding nests. Nests can extend as deep as four feet below the ground surface. The hot and humid conditions in the southeast provide a perfect haven for these pests. However, their mounds are higher above the ground after rainfall because the ant broods are more susceptible to temperature and humidity.

The United States have always had a native red fire ant population, but the sudden influx of RIFA has caused many problems not posed by the native population. The RIFA have reached pest status due to the fact that they have upset the natural balance in our local eco-system. They have decimated many of the friendlier ant populations such as the red carpenter ants, which provide the primary food source for much of the wildlife in the area. The RIFA also are responsible for killing young lizards that keep other insect populations in check.Salone counsels that it is important to leave the native red ants alone as they help control the RIFA population.

Experts believe that the RIFA was first accidentally introduced into the U.S. around 1929 through a cargo ship using soil as ballast. The ship had docked in Mobile, Alabama arriving from South America. Since then, the population has spread all through out the southeast. They have spread as far north as Maryland and as far west as California. They are not considered pests in South America due to the fact that they have many natural enemies that are indigenous to the area.

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About Mosquito and Pest Xperts
Mosquito and Pest Xperts first began with their mosquito and insect misting system. The mosquito misting systems technology has been in use for decades, originally developed for use in horse barns and dairy farms to effectively protect horses and dairy animals from flying and biting insects. Since then it has been used for residential and commercial purposes. The solutions that they utilize are among the lowest toxicity insecticides on the market, and the most widely used, being commercially approved for use in restaurants, inside of schools, for children’s lice shampoos, and for high end flea and tick treatments. The pyrethrum product will completely dissipate in sunlight within 15 minutes. In addition to pyrethrum products, they provide organic methods using natural plant oils as well. They pride themselves on their 100% customer satisfaction.