FIRE ANTS!!!!!
I've hated them since my freshman year of college when my biology teacher (who was a transfer from TX) talked about them incessantly (and of course tested on everything he never spoke of). It was the only class in which I ever received a C. Stupid fire ants.
It is the season for fire ants here. It's practically impossible to keep up with all of the mounds that pop up all over our gigantic yard. The mounds arise almost instantaneously and will get gigantic quickly if not treated.
I decided to do a little yard work during Dean's nap yesterday and was bit 4-5 times while mowing. I was constantly moving and only near an active mound (that I know of) once. The little buggers hurt like heck! They leave a much worse souvenir than mosquitoes. The bite kind of puffs up like a hive at first, then turns red on the perimeter, and then there's a white tip in the middle that kinda looks like a zit. They itch and burn (hence the name FIRE ant) for awhile. This morning I was out cleaning up. I was only out for less than a minute and was not even near a mound (that I know of) and was bit again! It really makes me paranoid about letting Dean play outside. I never let him play on the grass and I'm constantly on the look out for ants coming near him while on the sidewalk.
Next year I think I may push for an all yard treatment by a professional pest control company. It may be pricey, but with a toddler to worry about, I think it will be worth it.
11 comments:
Yuck! Hey.. I meant to ask you...did you guys get any effects from the Hurricane?
Na, we're too high up. Just a little wind and rain. Nothing big at all here.
That is one big thing we don't miss about Texas. Kaden was allergic and we had to carry epinephrine with us at all times. Now we don't and it is nice.
We bought something once that was a once a year treatment for fire ants and that seemed to work pretty good. You might want to give that a try.
I hate how little insects can control your life! Mosquitoes are insane down here but at least it's confined to sunset and sunrise, but then again we have to worry about them carrying disease. West nile freaks me out. Still I think I would take the Skeetos over the fire ants.
Try the little pellets that you sprinkle on the yard with a spreader. (I have a bag I'm putting out tomorrow if you want to see what it is.) They last for a full year! We haven't had ants in 2 years with two of those treatments.
I'd be worried Dean would try and eat them...
Do you have chiggers there, too? Those bites are mean and nasty for a while, too.
Now you know why all of those BYU summer sales guys got to TX to sell pest control. They should be knocking on your door any minute.
I hear ya. One of the first things we did after we moved here was get pest control (Because I grew up here and already knew how yucky they are). I am simply a happier person when I don't have to worry about ants, spiders, earwigs, etc. Definitely worth the money!
laura, who do you have come?
Yep just like Amanda said, Texas was really easy to sell pest control. you would be one to say oh, I have been waiting for you to come! Good luck! I don't envy your bugs. Oh my, I love the trim in the next post. I don't know if I could go that short.
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