A fire ant infestation is more than just a nuisance – it can lead to property damage and severe health problems for you and your family if left untreated.

Fire ants found in the wild are actually a different kind of insect than the ones that invade homes. Unless you step in their nests, wild fire ants are generally harmless. However, red imported fire ants (RIFA) are an invasive species that can cause severe damage, ranging from property destruction to health issues stemming from bites.

These insects love the warm climate here, so fire ants extermination in San Diego is difficult but possible. Here are a few ways you can get rid of these pesky pests.

Find Their Nests

The mounds you see in your yard aren’t the only place fire ants live – they build large networks around a property, often deep underground and in hidden crannies. Nests can be in gardens, under pavement, and near power lines, among various other places.

In particular, ants like electrical currents; they’ve been known to swarm around electrical equipment like air conditioning units and transformer boxes. The precise reason why is unknown, but they can destroy electrical equipment if allowed to nest nearby.

HVAC units are also one of the many ways they can gain access to the interior of your home. If you’re having trouble figuring out where ants are coming from, a professional exterminator can help you identify unknown access points and hidden nests.

Remove Their Food Source

Ants will establish their colonies near reliable sources of food. They are primarily scavengers, feasting on dead insects and tiny morsels of food left from other animals, but they’re also known to kill and eat small animals and insects. They love sugar but will consume almost anything they can find – even pet food left out in a bowl.

It’s critical you do your best to remove their access to food. Vacuum and sweep regularly and thoroughly, don’t leave food exposed on the counter, and keep compost bins shut tightly.

However, red imported fire ants are known to stockpile the food they find, meaning sweeping up crumbs often isn’t sufficient to wipe out an infestation. Because an ant infestation may happen as a result of another pest problem (like aphids, which are locally notorious), professional pest control in San Diego is needed to address the root causes of infestations and fully treat them.

Call a Professional

Above all else, these insects are resilient. The workers protect their queen at all costs – they build rafts if they sense an increase in water, ration their food, and quickly rebuild destroyed mounds. The longer an infestation has been around, the more effort is needed to fully treat the problem. As they can build an extended network of nests around a property, regular pest control is needed over time to ensure complete eradication.

Request a Free Estimate

If you suspect you have an infestation and are in need of fire ants control in San Diego, contact us at Pro Pacific Pest Control to request a free estimate. We understand the pervasive nature of these ants and will work with you as long it takes to free your home of these dangerous pests.