Exceeding Hatred for Fire Ants

I can tell this is going to be the first of potentially many posts about fire ants. Let it be said first of all that Jeana feels like she is going to die because of the pain from being stung, NOT bitten, by fire ants. They have really gotten under our skin, pun intended, this week -- so much that both last night and tonight we each have spent more time than we wanted Googling about them. I thought I would include some of my research here for humor, venting, and expression of enmity.


Figure 1. Some fire ants.

Bite versus Sting

So, these vicious creatures don't bite, they sting. Before they sting you, however, they use their mandibles to attach and anchor themselves to their victim's flesh. Then, with all the hatred for the human species they can muster up, they arch their backs, double under their abdomens, and force their spear-like (I don't know if they're spear-like, I took a little literary liberty there) stinger into your skin to inject their venom. Yes, it is called venom by the experts. That is not all! These blood-thirsty heathens may then remove the stinger and pivot around their heads to cause additional stings in a circular pattern.

$140M of Damage Each Year in Texas

"They are somehow attracted to electrical fields and crawl into air conditioning units and the electrical wiring of stoplights, shorting them out. This is the leading cause of traffic light shorts in Texas, where the ants cause more than US$140 million in damage each year.

"The FDA estimates that more than US$5 billion is spent annually on medical treatment, damage, and control in RIFA-infested areas. Further, the ants cause approximately US$750 million in damage to agricultural assets, including vet bills and livestock loss as well as crop loss."
(Source: Wikipedia: Red imported fire ant.)

What is to be done? Enter the Phorid.

The Phorid is a fly that is found in the ants' native habitat of South America. These flies paraticize the ants. The female flies lay eggs on the ants at the junction of the thorax and head which prompts a "jerky dance maneuver" in the ants. The larva then consumes the insides of the ant's head, decapitating the ant in the process (see figure 3 below)! Ah, I can't tell you how much satisfaction I get thinking about this information! I'll order a year's supply of phorids.


Figure 2. A phorid.


Figure 3. A decapitated fire ant.

Our Strategy

I'm sure there will be more on this topic later. Tomorrow, we'll head to Lowe's to purchase some Amdro Yard Treatment.

Testimonials

Jeana found a forum of people describing the pain they were experiencing as a result of fire ant stings. Here are a couple that we thought were funny:

"When I first moved to South Georgia, they warned me to watch for snakes. I was so busy looking for snakes, I stood in fire ants. Adding fire ants to my list of things for which to watch, I walked into a single strand electric fence, watching for moving creatures."

"I Just got bit by a queen ant that was huuuuuuge!!! Am i going to die? SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP ME AND LET ME KNOW IF IM GOING TO LIVE!!!"