Fire Ants

[my3kids]

My husband got bitten on Spring Break in Florida....so about 6 weeks ago. His foot is still inflamed.

 

[Carolyn UK]

Wow
Some pretty awful stories there! Will keep my eyes peeled for em.

Thanks a lot - I won't even think to ask about Brown Recluse Spider.........................

Cheers

Caz

 

[lindajo]

I agree, watch where you step and stand. The only time I have been bitten by one is while I was standing there minding my own business. I wasn't near a nest, but here in SC they are everywhere! They are very nasty varmints! And they bite hard, it hurts, and it can leave a bump and a little (sorry-yuck) pus filled sore. I feel so bad for your little boy, Tinkerbelle739, that must have been horrifying for him. Ever since DS6 and DS4 have been walking, we have showed them fire ants and told them to stay away, since they are all over down here.

I thought fire ants were small and brown, everyone around here says that. I never heard of sugar ants......

 

[wward0411]

i lived in mississippi for a few years and did step in a bunch of fire ants and yup it hurt - i found the best thing was old fashioned calomine lotion

fire ants weren't really a problem though it was the mosquitos - i soon learnt to avoid spraying my heavy perfumes and scented body lotions, used the off spray - SPRAYED MY KIDS CLOTHES WITH IT NOT THEIR BODIES and again the best thing for the bites was calomine lotion - or aveeno lotion which has calomine in it, benadryl cream works good too - don't use the benadryl spray if you are like me and prone to scratching cause it will sting like crazy

 

[shatzjsl]

Fire ants are the meanest little creatures ever! They work as a team. First they crawl all over you then one of the little varments sends out some sort of scent or signal and they all bite at once. Then you have those awful blisters to deal with!

My BIL from CA was at our house a couple years ago and had never heard of fire ants. He wouldn't believe me when I told him how they worked. So, to prove it to him, I took him out in the yard and found an ant pile. He put is hand in and counted to 3. Lifted it up and said "See, nothing". The next instant he was screaming and jumping around the yard. LOL It was a very funny sight!

Thier hills don't look like regular ant hill but you can see them. Below is a really big one:

 

[lindajo]

Originally posted by shatzjsl
My BIL from CA was at our house a couple years ago and had never heard of fire ants. He wouldn't believe me when I told him how they worked. So, to prove it to him, I took him out in the yard and found an ant pile. He put is hand in and counted to 3. Lifted it up and said "See, nothing". The next instant he was screaming and jumping around the yard. LOL It was a very funny sight!

(My apologies to your BIL, but that really is funny!)