While most ants in NJ won’t attack you, fire ants are an exception. Red ants or fire ants can attack in droves and cause severe reactions to their bites in some people. If you think your red ants might be fire ants, you’ll need professional pest control in New Jersey to deal with them. The following tips can help you determine whether or not you have a fire ant infestation.
Physical Appearance of Fire Ants
Red imported fire ants are small, with adults measuring between 1.5 and 4 mm. These red ants are a reddish-brown color with a darker abdomen. They have antennae with ten segments and two nodes between their abdomen and thorax.
Fire Ant Nests
Fire ants build most of their nests underground, but they sometimes show up on the surface. These nests have a crumbly appearance without any holes or openings and can measure up to 18 inches in diameter. You might see red ant mounds in sunny areas, especially in spring or fall.
Fire Ant Behavior
These red ants become highly aggressive when their nests are disturbed. Workers from the colony come out of their nest quickly and begin to attack. You might see them climbing on vertical surfaces to reach their target, such as long blades of grass. They inflect painful bites that form white pustules after a couple of days.
If you need pest control in New Jersey for an ant infestation, please contact Allison Pest Control. We can identify the type of ant infestation you have and use effective methods to eliminate them.
