Little more than a week has passed since Hurricane Michael made landfall in the Gulf Coast. This powerful storm fell short of a Category 5 hurricane by just 2 mph as it smashed into the Florida panhandle, leaving a path of destruction and flooding in its wake. Stories and news reports continue to roll in daily about Michael, including those of large ant swarms. Finding groups of ants after hurricanes is not uncommon, and you should be careful if you happen to come across one. Read on to learn more, then contact Palm Coast Pest Control for industry-leading ant control along the east and west coast of Florida.
Ants and Hurricanes
Where You Will Find Them
Flooding often occurs for miles after a hurricane makes landfall. This flooding can be problematic for obvious reasons — not only does it cause millions of dollars in property and agricultural damage, but it also forces a lot of animals and pests to abandon their natural habitat.
Fire ants are one of those pests, and they protect themselves from drowning by forming large rafts that float on top of the flood waters until they find dry land. The queen and the larvae remain at the center of the floating mass for optimal protection, and the rest of the colony continually rotates positions above the waterline to ensure none of them drown. These floating masses can be located where ever there are flood waters.
Why Are They Dangerous?
While these small, buoyant clusters of ants are likely to draw your attention, beware of floating ants after hurricanes. Once the floating mass of ants finds something solid to cling to, they are likely to begin stinging immediately and en masse. That means if you happen to bump into the floating colony, you can easily expect thousands of bites and stings within a matter of seconds.
Fire ants are incredibly strong, and they will continue to cling to you even if they are submerged. It often takes a good strong rub to remove them, but by then, the damage has been done. Some experience a strong burning sensation and welts after being bit or stung, and for those who have an allergic reaction, a fire ant attack can be fatal.
How to Protect Yourself
One of the best ways to protect yourself from a fire ant attack is to avoid walking into flood waters. It is a good idea to stay out of floodwater anyway because of health risks. If you absolutely must trudge through standing water after a hurricane, then it is important to be on the lookout for floating fire ant colonies. If you discover one, stay as far away as possible — do not attempt to move the ants or splash them away.
Top Rated Local® Ant Control
Whether you have discovered large swarms of ants on your property in the aftermath of a hurricane or these troublesome pests are invading your home as the seasons change, Palm Coast Pest Control is here for you. Floating colonies of ants after hurricanes cannot always be eliminated, but we can help protect your home from an ant invasion. Call us at 1-800-819-7378 today to schedule a pest inspection, or request your free ant control estimate online now!
