Fire ants stings are a painful reality for many South Carolina residents; however, they don’t have to be. At Spencer Pest Services, we have seen our fair share of fire ant stings and understand how dangerous and life-interrupting they can be. This blog aims to explain how to deal with a fire ant sting and how to prevent them from happening in the first place with fire ant control in South Carolina.
Fire Ants in South Carolina
Fire ants are an invasive species of ants that have made their home in the south—particularly in South Carolina. This vicious insect is aggressive and prone to attack anything that disturbs its nest. When a fire ant hill is disturbed, hundreds of the ants can come out and attack the intruder. This can result in a number of bites/stings which can cause itchy rashes, pustules, and burning sensations.
What Happens When a Fire Ant Stings You?
Fire ants get their name from the burning/stinging sensation that occurs after they have stung you. Contrary to popular belief, the stinging feeling does not come from their bite, but rather from the venom that is injected through a stinger. Similar to a bee or wasp, a fire ant has a short stinger attached to its body. When disturbed, the fire ant will bite into your skin with its jaw, and inject venom into your skin through its stinger. Most people do not feel the bite and do not have time to get the insect off of them before it stings them.
For the majority of the population, the sting of a fire ant causes a burning, itching, or stinging sensation that can turn into a blister or a pustule. However, for others, the fire ant sting can be deadly. If the symptoms of the sting progress and cause hives, nausea, trouble breathing, sweating, swelling, and dizziness, seek out medical attention immediately.
How to Treat a Fire Ant Sting?
Treating a fire ant sting is relatively simple. First, you will want to remove yourself from the area where you were attacked. Once you are in a fire ant-free area, make sure no other fire ants are on you. Then wash the area where you were stung with soap and water, disinfect the area, and place a cool cloth on it for a few minutes. This will help remove any venom from the skin and calm down the inflammation. You can also use a topical or oral antihistamine to further prevent swelling. For the next few days be careful not to scratch or irritate the area as this can cause an infection.
How to Prevent Fire Ant Bites/Stings?
Fire ants are notorious for building colonies and nests close to buildings and homes. This can lead to problems where the fire ants are in the middle of a frequented path and causing problems. The only way to prevent yourself from getting bit/stung is to get rid of the colony. An ant exterminator in South Carolina is trained to deal with the dangers of fire ants. They have the proper equipment and safety protocol to get rid of a colony safely and effectively. Once you have eliminated the immediate threat, fire ant control in South Carolina is a necessity. This prevents the ants from returning and making your yard or building their home again.
Protect Against Future Attacks with Fire Ants Treatment in South Carolina
Are you dealing with a fire ant colony outside your home or business? Spencer Pest Control offers ant control services in South Carolina as well as ant removal. Protect your home, your family, and your pets with our fire ant yard treatment. Don’t wait until the problem is too big to ignore, prevent yourself from getting stung with the help of Spencer Pest Control.
Call us at (864) 648-8167 or set up an extermination service today!