We’ve been getting quite a bit of rain here in Collin County lately. With all of this rain, our clients have noticed an increase in fire ant infestations, with mounds popping up in yards across Allen, Frisco, McKinney, and Plano recently. So what is the connection between ants and rain?
When California saw an increase in Argentine ants, scientists at Stanford University conducted a study to learn more about these invasive little creatures. The results of their survey of dozens of homes spread throughout northern California concluded, “Ants are most likely to enter homes in cold, wet conditions.”
Last spring, residents of Overland Park, Kansas experienced a similar problem. Local CBS affiliate, KCTV5, reported, “When it rains, the precipitation flushes out ants, and their natural reaction is to head for higher ground. Unfortunately that higher ground has ended up being some people’s homes.”
It’s simple. Rain can be deadly to ants, so they have to hunker down and wait out the storm somewhere. Your beautiful lawn and cozy home are ideal vacation destinations for desperate ants seeking shelter from the rain. Just like you would do if you were caught in a rainstorm, ants find a way to get out of the wet and cold conditions.
So what can you do to protect your home and yard from fire ants? Weed Xtinguishers uses a combination of baits and pesticides to eliminate fire ants on your property. On a yearly basis, our Xtinguishers come to your home to readminister our fire ant control program to keep you and your family out of harm’s way.
Annually, nearly 20 million people are stung by fire ants. With heavy rains in Collin County in the future forecast, contact us now about fire ant control for your property.