Fire Ants

[Carolyn UK]

Hi all

Having read a lot about fire ants, I am getting a bit worried!! Apart from avoiding them at all costs, is there any recommended insect repellent to deter them? Also,whats the most effective insect repellant ?

If theres something that bites/stings, it usually finds me

And Im a terrible wimp with creepy crawlies

Thanks

Caz

 

[GeorgeG]

Welcome to the Dis, Carolyn!

We've been to WDW many times and have never seen any fire ants. That doesn't mean they're not there, just as with other insects and creatures, but WDW usually does a great job of controlling these things.

It's always wise to look before you sit, step, or reach. That's a good way to avoid not only insects and reptiles, but spilled ice cream and such.

 

[Carolyn UK]

Hi George

Thanks for the welcome!! And I will heed your advice!!

Caz

 

[joats]

I got bit by a fire ant at WDW @WL. Man, did it hurt!
I think it was in my slipper. I did notice that we had a problem with them on our balcony so we avoided going out there. In hind site, I suppose we should have reported the problem, but we were on our honeymoon and nothing, (not even fire ants) was going to bring me down!

I don't think you should worry too much about it. Only that one experience for me after the many times in Florida. I hope you can find some kind of repellant to make you more at ease.

 

[wward0411]

use OFF in a spray can - get the green one not the orange one, from any US supermarket/pharmacy, works better than anything you can get in Boots!

 

[Carolyn UK]

Hi Joats and wward

Joats, I don't blame you not letting the critter upset your honeymoon!!

wward, yes, I will wait to buy stuff in US - it will be my first port of call. Got stuff for Aus from Boots and got bit to high heaven by mossies!!

Staying on I Drive so shops should be plentiful!!

Thanx

Caz

 

[missyc]

Sorry, but there is no repelent for fire ants!
For the others, like mosquitos, OFF probably the best. Just be sure to wash it off. My doctor stressed this to me. Never leave it on longer than you need to. If my kids fall asleep asleep on the way home and have been sprayed we wake them to get it off.
Fire ants shouldn't be a problem, just watch where you sit if it's in the grass or something.

 

[Carolyn UK]

Hi missyc

No repellant........

Guess its the long pants then and I will DEFINATELY keep off the grass!!

Thanx

Caz

 

[missyc]

You don't need long pants...they don't fly or jump!! LOL
I haven't worn pants in about 10 years!
Just watch for ant hills if you're walking in the grass and stuff.
My cousin was vacationing from OH (no fire ants). They were walking on the sidewalk along the beach when their DD had to "tinkle". It was at night with no one around, so they let her squat off the sidewalk to do her thing.....she was ON an ant hill. Yikes! They had to take her to the ER. Over 80 bites on her bottom.
If you're just going to the WDW parks you probably won't even see one.

 

[Carolyn UK]

Hi missyc

Sorry, was joking out the long pants 1 site I went on said 'HOW TO AVOID BEING BITTEN BY A FIRE ANT'
a) wear long pants
b) if you disturb a nest, RUN

I thought it was hilarious!!

How awful for your cousins DD, hope she wasn't TOO distressed.
I will definately get 'OFF' and make sure its washed off properly too.

Advice is much appreciated!!

Thanx
Caz

 

[Aimeedyan]

Just watch where you're standing...

Living in Texas, I've learned to always look around before sitting down outside... they always run in pacts, it'd be unusual to catch a stray bite. Just be cautious of where you're sitting and standing and you should be okay. No repellant works for them, that I know of. They're just evil evil little things.

They also LOVE food, so watch out for piles of spilt ice cream and stuff around... they're likely to be found there, chowing down =)

I woke up yesterday to find them on my bedside table =( ARGH. Found a new mound right outside my bedroom window... little punks.

 

[Tinkerbelle739]

In Oct 2003 we stayed at POR. While walking to the bus stop one morning DS walked through a divider in the parking lot. There was a small tree on the divider. DS (4) started screaming hysterically. 100s of fire ants were attacking him. They were up his legs and into his shorts. I had to literally rip off his clothes in the parking lot and try and get them off. The bites really sting. The sting didnt last long and there were no lasting effects, except small red bumps on DSs legs and feet.

My advice would be to just stay away from any areas that dont get alot of traffic, such as that divider.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!

 

[TTFN]

Funny this should appear now....I'm just in from a walk and noticed a LOT of fire ant mounds. I think if you look before you walk (or sit), fire ants won't be a problem. Now, my DD did have an "ants in the pants" incident while sitting on a curb in Epcot, but they weren't fire ants. It was funny after the fact, but when she stood up and took off for the ladies' room without saying a word,...well actually it was pretty funny then too!

 

[Feralpeg]

I got bit several times on one trip to WDW. We were at MGM. It had been raining off and on. I'm not sure where I picked him up. I had been sitting on a bench outside of Indiana Jones before we went in. During the show, I felt something like a sting on my neck. It happened more than once. I asked DD if she saw a bee around me. She didn't see anything. We couldn't get out of the show easily because I was in the middle of a row near the front. As soon as the show was over, I went to the restroom and took off my top. There was one little fire ant. He got me good several times. My sister had one of those stick things that you put on bites. It helped a lot. Of all the trips weve made to Florida, this is the only time we've had a problem.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Look before you step. If you see a mound of dirt, avoid it! And you might want to turn your shoes upside down and shake them out, pound them together to get anything that might have crawled in...out. If you get a few fire ants on you, water should get them off pretty easily. Just watch for them.

 

[clueless adventurer]

Just reading you're post header, the obvious question to me is, why did you hire them in the first place?

 

[donnajon]

Actually there is a difference between fire ants - big red ones and the sugar ants - little black ones. The fire ant bites will sting and it will itch for days. We have them all over the place in Columbia. You can see the mounds pretty easily. If they bite you, it will sting at first then itch for a long time. You will get a little raised pus nodule that looks like a zit. The most effective thing I've found for a bite relief is called Fire Ant Sting Relief - After Sting Gel. It burns lie crazy when you first put it on but the relief is immediate and it wont bother you again. I think that stuff has magic in it.

 

[mommyseven]

The only way to avoid getting bit/stung is to watch where you walk. Having spent all my life with this painful critters, there's not much else that you can do.

Also, watch out for puddles. They will float on top of the water, crawl up your leg, and bite you for the heck of it.

 

[VampHeartless]

I totally didn't know fire ants existed til I joined the army.

See, in Oregon the ants are nice and friendly and you can play with them in the stuff.

So, my first at Ft. Jackson, I sat down with my hands in the ants, and was playing with them.

YEAAAAOUUUUUCCCCCHHHHH!!!!!

Learned a valuable life lesson that day, I did.

 

[missyc]

He likes his own butt!
LOL