Texas and many southern states are being overrun with fire ants, in a crisis that is being labeled as one of the worst insect epidemics in the region's history. The infestation has prompted many professional pest control services to develop new methods of combating the spread of the ants, with a variety of environmental cures to protect lawns and homes from invasion.
According to Justin Douglas, expert researcher from Planet Amazing, the fire ants were imported to the United States from South America and are resourceful bugs, able to adapt to new environments quickly. In one instance, 10,000 fire ants were seen joined together in the rain to create a life raft and float down a river to a new location.
The state government of Texas is funding the release of phorid flies to hunt the fire ants and control their populations. However, the flies cannot be used in residential homes. If the ants do enter the home, professional pest control services should be contacted.
Fire ants and carpenter ants can cause homeowners numerous problems, such as transporting diseases into homes. The pests are attracted to foods such as honey, jelly and meat, so individuals should make sure to discard these food items carefully to avoid developing an ant problem.