Fire Ants - The pests may have met its match
By Swtrose
@Swtrose (3385)
Canada
June 17, 2007 1:05pm CST
Fire ants, are stinging ants. Fire ants only bite to get a grip and then sting. For us, this is a painful sting, which leaves a feeling similar to being burned by fire. It is really painful. The colonies are founded by small groups of queens. The workers are females who defend the nest. The red imported fire ant has become a real nuisance. Fire ants are difficult to get rid of. Fire ants are very aggressive and eliminate many of their predators.
The pest though have met its match with the phorid fly, which is the enemy of the fire ant. The phorib fly does not fear the fire ant. The phorid fly lays its eggs on them. The eggs hatch into maggots that bore into the heads of fire ants and feed on their brains. The phorid fly is the fire ant’s predator. Fire ants will often hide from the phorid fly and they should. I read a very interesting article recently about the phorid flies that were introduced to fight against the fire ants.
So there you have one way to get rid of the nasty pests. Phorid flies - the fire ants enemy.
8 people like this
7 responses
@castleghost (1304)
• United States
17 Jun 07
This is some interesting information that you have shared with everyone. I can't say that I have ever seen a fire ant before. At least now if I run in to a problem with fire ants then I will know how to get rid of them. But I was wondering where the common person might be able to get a phorid fly at. And once you get rid of your fire ant problem will you have a problem getting rid of the phorid fy as well?
4 people like this
@Swtrose (3385)
• Canada
17 Jun 07
I don't think the common person can get a hold of one. I was just sharing the information I had been reading in the news. I find it interesting and something different than news about Paris Hilton.
Here is info on how to get rid of them yourself.
http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/living/home/story/60274.html
1 person likes this
@castleghost (1304)
• United States
17 Jun 07
Thank you ladies for sharing these sites with me. I appreciate you taking the time to get these for me. Thanks Rose for sharing the information about the flies and ants as well.
2 people like this
@blackbriar (9076)
• United States
17 Jun 07
Where can I get some of those flies? I have fire ants all over my yard and tired of trying to brush em all off when they start climbing up my legs. My dog won't even go to a certain part of the yard cause he was attacked by the fire ants there. They seem to have become resistant to the ant spray I was using up till 2yrs. ago.
@blackbriar (9076)
• United States
19 Jun 07
Domingo is doing just fine although the fire ants will be an experience he nor I will ever forget. I literally had to dunk him in a tub of water outside to get them all off him and he HATES bathes. lol
As for your response, RealDeal, thanks for the info but I only use natural/organic sprays and such in my yard cause otherwise, the benefical insects are killed as well then I'll really have a bug problem in my gardens and flowerbeds.
1 person likes this
@budsr03 (2350)
• Canada
17 Jun 07
That's all good about the Phorid Fly, but we should hope it doesn't become another pest to destroy! I think the Pine Beetle was imported for this purpose, to destroy another pest, and it destroyed a lot of pine trees and it is still a real threat!
Good post. Take care Swtrose.
@tammyr (5946)
• Etowah, Tennessee
18 Jun 07
We don't have a problem with fire ants here. We have the little black ants that also make hills and bite or sting.
We had a big hill right beside our pool I tried for a week to run them off and not have to kill them, but the hill was so large, it did not work. I got some stuff from wal-mart and it got rid of a lot of them and most of the rest are gone. I may have to put more out but I don't want to put more than what I have too.
@tinamwhite (3252)
• United States
17 Jun 07
Swtrose, I found this very informative....one question though...where do you find Phorid flies??? I am unfamiliar with these...
I have problems with fire ants where I live....they really are almost impossible to get rid of...nothing seems to work...
Thanks, my friend...hope that you are doing well...I have been out of town for a few days but have returned...
3 people like this
@maybey (365)
• Philippines
18 Jun 07
According to my research about fire ants. It is a seriuos pests which have been detected in Queensland and Australia, They inflict a painful sting and if not eradicated will seriously affected our lifestyle. They are the greatest ecological threat to Australia since the introduction of the rabbit and are potentially worse than the cane toad. The bodies of fir ants, like all insects bodies, are broken up into three sections: the head, the thorax, and the abdomen with three pairs of legs and a pair of antennae. Fire ants can be distinguised from other ants by their copper brown head and body with a darker abdomen. The size of fire ants varries from 3mm and 6mm. These different sizes of the ants can all exist in the same nest.
@brendalee (6082)
• United States
18 Jun 07
I was just reading an article about fire ants in Australia. It appears that they have a big problem with them. This is taken from this website...http://www2.dpi.qld.gov.au/fireants/..... "Fire ants pose such a serious threat to our economy, environment and lifestyle that they they have been declared a notifiable pest under the Plant Protection Act 1989." It seems like fire ants are becoming a big problem in the US too. The USDA Agricultural Research Service has come up with a plan to help. You can see that plan here....http://fireant.ifas.ufl.edu/project.htm . I don't know a lot about fire ants and I have never seen any, but I have heard and read alot about them. Another interesting article can be found here.......http://www.insecta-inspecta.com/ants/redfire/index.html . Its about the Red Imported Fire Ant. Scroll down to the section titled Troublemakers and you can see just what damage they can do.
