What are Red Imported Fire Ants? Red Imported Fire Ants develop reactions where they Red Imported Fire Ants, with their aggressive nature and have been stung that include swellin g, itchin g, redness painful stings, are beginning to infest California. Already, and pain tha t lasts for several days. But for some these tiny but destructive creatures have been found in a people — maybe two out of 100 — the ant venom numb e r of Southern California and Centr al Valley count i e s can be potentially life-threatening. Symptoms are and are expected to spread even further unless everyone similar to those suf fered by people allergic to bee pitches in to help eradicate the pest. sti n gs: se vere swellin g, shortness of breath, dizziness, AL E RT ! nausea, headaches and profuse sweating. People who This brochure provides you with information about experience an allergic reaction should immediately Report Infestations Red Imported Fire Ants, how to keep your family safe seek medical attention. from them, what to do if you are stung, how to report Toll Free at an infestation, and what the California Department mounds that are often 18 inches across or larger. Red Impo rted How do you treat a of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) will do to treat them. Fire Ants also are attracted to electrical currents and can be Red Imported Fire Ant sting? 1-888-4FIREANT found in electrical boxes, such as outdoor sprinkler systems, If you are stung, these treatments can help alleviate How did Red Imported Fire Ants airport lights and swimming pool pumps. the discomfort and prevent infection: (1-888-434-7326) come to California? • Elevate the ext r emity and apply ice or a cold compress Red Imported Fire Ants are called “imported” because they Why are Red Imported Fire Ants threatening? to reduce swellin g and relie ve pain and itchin g. • If you think you have discovered are not native to this country. It is believed that they came Red Impo rted Fire Ants have a fierce sting or“bite” that leaves Wash the affected area with soap and water to prevent secondary infection. to the United States from South America aboard cargo victims with painful, itchy welts. In some cases, stings from Red Imported Fire Ants, do not disturb ships that docked in Mobile, Ala., in the 1930s. Today, fire Red Imported Fire Ants can even kill people who are allergic to • Keep the blisters clean and avoid scratching to help the mound or try to kill the ants yourself. ants infest more than 300 million acres in twelve states their venom. reduce the chance of infection and scarring. across the southern United States, as well as Puerto Rico. • Apply a topical ointment containing steroids and/or Most recently, they are infesti n g California and New Mexi c o. Red Impo rted Fire Ants also are a threat to wildlife and take an oral antihistamine to relieve the itching. Immediately contact the California agriculture. They attack and kill pets and wildlife, such as quail, • Seek medical attention if the swelling progresses, if What do Red Imported liz ards ,s qu i rrels and baby deer. They also can attack agri c u ltur al the area becomes infected, or if you suspect you are Department of Food and Agriculture Fire Ants look like? workers, compete with beneficial insects and devour important experiencing an allergic reaction to the stings. toll free at 1-888-434-7326, and Red Imported Fire Ants are crops, such as citrus, strawberries and corn. very small, ranging from they will send an expert to check it approximately one-sixteenth The threat to people and animals is another factor that distin- at no charge to you. inch to one-fourth inch, and guishes Red Imported Fire Ants from other ants. Other types are reddish-brown in color. of ants — both impo rted and nati ve — pose no threat to people They are different from most or to wildlife, other than being a nuisance. For more information visit the Web site ants commonly found in California,but you can’t distinguish them from other ants How do Red Imported Fire Ants attack? www.fireant.ca.gov just by looking at them. Red Imported Fire Ants attack when their nests are disturbed, usually when a person or animal inadvertently steps on their Where do Red Imported Fire Ants live? mound. Attracted by movement, the insects swarm onto people Red Impo rted Fire Ants live underground and can be or animals before they even realize an attack is under way. Then distinguished by the type of moun ds they build on lawns, the ants begin to sting, injecting venom that feels like a poke ga rdens, parks , fie lds, cemeteri e s and inside homes — just with a hot needle. Because each ant can sting numerous times, about any place they can find moisture. The mounds the victim can receive many more stings than there are ants. appear as small piles of fine soil with small holes. Each sting will hurt for about an hour and forms a blister-like These mounds can eventually resemble large gopher sore filled with fluid. More than half of those stung by How can you protect your family and yourself from Red Imported Fire Ants? FAST FAC T S Reduce your risk of being stung by dressing properly when walkin g, ga rdenin g or diggin g outdoo rs. Among the precauti o ns you should take: Be on the lookout • Wear gloves and closed-toe shoes with socks. Protect your family and yourself by being on the • Before you allow children to play outside, survey the lookout for Red Imported Fire Ants. These simple area for ant mounds. • Children should wear protective clothing while tips will help keep you safe and help rid California playing outdoors. of this unwanted pest. What should you do if you think you’ve Safety first found Red Imported Fire Ants? • Reduce your risk of being stung by dressing properly • Do not distur b the sus pected moun d or nest and don’t try to kill the ants or destroy the nest yourself ! when walking, gardening or digging outdoors. • Call the California Department of Food and • Wear gloves and closed-toe shoes with socks. Agriculture (CDFA) Fire Ant Hotline toll free at • Before you allow children to play outside, survey 1-888-4FIREANT. You will be asked questions to the area for ant mounds. help determine if you have discovered a Red Imported Fire Ant infestation, and an expert will • Children should wear protective clothing while be sent at no charge to check it. playing in the dirt. How are Red Imported Fire Ant If you are stung infestations treated? Treatment experts use an environmentally safe two- • If the swelling progresses, if the area becomes RE D step process to eradicate Red Imported Fire Ants. I M P O R T E D infected, or if you suspect you could be experiencing • First, experts will spread bait around the mounds an allergic reaction to the stings, you should seek that consists of an insect growth regulator mixed medical attention immediately. An allergic reaction with ground-up corn cobs coated with soybean oil. The ants will carry the bait back to their nests could include severe swelling, shortness of breath, where the chemic al will steri lize the queen and keep dizziness, nausea, headaches and profuse sweating. the imma tur e i ns ects from becomin g adults . • Elevate the extremity and apply ice or a cold • Next , they spread a sim ila r bait containi n g a slow- compress to reduce swelling and relieve pain acti n g pesticide. Again, the ants will carry it back FI R E to their mounds, where the pesticide will gradually and itching. poison and eradicate the insects over several weeks. • Wash the affected area with soap and water to prevent secondary infection. Both the pesticide and the growth regulator are used in extremely small doses—less than one-tenth of an • Keep the blisters clean and avoid scratching to ounce per acre—and both qui c kly lose their potency help reduce the chance of infection and scarring. when exp os e d to the air and water. Thus , they pose AN T S • Apply a topical ointment containing steroids an d / almost no threat to anim a ls or hum a ns. or take an oral antihistamine to relieve the itching. CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE (union bug here) .