1st timer-please tell me it is not like this....

[Gillian]

The OP in the other thread said they were "red ants," and I think the exterminator said something about them being too young to be harmful??

The OP in this thread just said ants. If it were me, I'd be too busy running away to notice what color they were!

Fire ants are red, and they do live in the south, but we don't know if these were fire ants or not. The possibility that they are is pretty scary. Let's hope the problem is taken care of soon!

 

[twinmomplus2]

Your right this poster just indicated ants. I am the original ant poster. And I can assure you. Having been bit/stung, several times during this trip. That indeed they were fire ants, If you have been bit. trust me you are aware of it. You are correct the original exterminator/maintanance guy. Did say not to worry they were feral to young to bite. I can however assure you on day 3. that proved to be totally inaccurate.

 

[CK1]

Fire ants come in all shapes and sizes. Black and red, small and large. And they DO climb. My sister had them in her Florida condo, a couple floors up. Why did they climb there, who knows... but I kid you not, they climbed right in and took several bites outta me that night! Fire ant bites leave very distinct blisters -- sugar ants don't. And carpenter ants, while not known for attacking people, can do serious structural damage, and should be dealt with in their own right for proerty value's sake! Any kind of disruption to the environment makes ants move and makes a fire ant even more aggressive (i.e. like recent construction... which is all over at WDW). THey can't treat this room-by-room and have any success. It will have to be a whole-building treatment. Probably there's a nest under the foundation or very near it.

We should be careful not to sensationalize tragedies and potential urban legends regarding fire ants. BUT... in this case, with more than one report of ants that bite, and infestation, I'd say professional extermination is in order.

Cindy

 

[Chuck S]

Fire ants are a problem here in Texas as well. Once they get into a building they are very difficult to get rid of unless the entire building is treated at the same time, otherwise they simply move from one area to another. Bites are painful and can leave scars. If the climate is particularly rainy they will climb several floors up to a drier area. In flood conditions these ants cling together, essentially making floating stinging "islands" of ants.

If BCV has a severe infestation it may take awhile to get under control. Eliminating them can be expensive and time consuming.