Big red ants in the sand (Tri-Cities area) (Tacoma, Pasco: house, living)

[Ryan]

What the heck are they? I saw a bunch of them coming out of these little sporatic sand crater holes around my yard before putting sod down (in W. Pasco). There's no water anywhere near my place. Fire ants are only in the southern US. Never seen anything like these. Anybody know?

[silverfox]

Hi Ryan,

I had a builder in the area tell me not to do a slab pour house because of an ant problem if the floor cracks, and it will.
If you can get at the entrance to where they are living, just go get a gallon of gas and pour some down the holes. That does them in, and if they come back do it again.
You should kill one and take it somewhere to be checked. Call the city and see who can help.
Now what are you going to do about the Black Widow spiders ???

Good Luck,

Silverfox

[Balco9]

Originally Posted by silverfox

Hi Ryan,

I had a builder in the area tell me not to do a slab pour house because of an ant problem if the floor cracks, and it will.
If you can get at the entrance to where they are living, just go get a gallon of gas and pour some down the holes. That does them in, and if they come back do it again.
You should kill one and take it somewhere to be checked. Call the city and see who can help.
Now what are you going to do about the Black Widow spiders ???

Good Luck,

Silverfox

How bad is the black widow spider problem?

[silverfox]

Balco 9,

There is not a big problem if you can avoid them, but they are there. I was talking to a house framer and he told me he goes under his house and kills them every once in a while. They pick a spot to build a web and usually stay close to it but there is a chance one could end up where you don't want.
I would be particularly careful about leaving your slippers, shoes, and clothing in places that could be exposed. Many different Spiders can be dangerous if they bite you.
Common sense and alertness are your best defense. I would be pro-active in keeping your eyes peeled and get rid of any that are near your living quarters. Be sure you know what they look like.
For peace of mind it might not hurt to contact an exterminator and have them do a thoro check on occasion.
Many people do not concern themselves with the problem, and so be it, but if you ever saw what a bite can do, you would take precautionary measures.
Remember...we still live in a world where it is still survival of the fittest.

Silverfox

[Balco9]

Originally Posted by silverfox

Balco 9,

There is not a big problem if you can avoid them, but they are there. I was talking to a house framer and he told me he goes under his house and kills them every once in a while. They pick a spot to build a web and usually stay close to it but there is a chance one could end up where you don't want.
I would be particularly careful about leaving your slippers, shoes, and clothing in places that could be exposed. Many different Spiders can be dangerous if they bite you.
Common sense and alertness are your best defense. I would be pro-active in keeping your eyes peeled and get rid of any that are near your living quarters. Be sure you know what they look like.
For peace of mind it might not hurt to contact an exterminator and have them do a thoro check on occasion.
Many people do not concern themselves with the problem, and so be it, but if you ever saw what a bite can do, you would take precautionary measures.
Remember...we still live in a world where it is still survival of the fittest.

Silverfox

Thank you Silverfox

[jwb123]

Sounds like Fire Ants - and from what I was told by a pest control guy this weekend, there are reports of them moving north into CA - so I think it's safe to say they could very well be fire ants. Sounds exactly like Fire Ants! I would treat the area with any application found easily at Home Depot.

[LMB]

The fire ants in FL are tiny and brown--some darker than others. Mean, nasty little buggers! Just accidentally brush a fire ant ant hill while walking and they will swarm out instantly, ready to fight--hopefully not finding your feet or ankles! Their bite packs a wallop, and if you're allergic to them (as I am) you'll be miserable for about three weeks after being bitten. I'm hoping it takes a long time for fire ants to move into the Puget Sound area! We've been in FL for 15 years and have yet to find anything that gets rid of them for very long.

Lynn

[Balco9]

We have fire ants here in Tacoma. Every summer i have large pack of them in my yard in the grass near a big tree, but kill them off with ant spray. They are not a big deal and won't bother you if you don't bother them.

[BlueCowOnline]

Hi Ryan.

Your ants...are just ants. A bait-station type of poison will do them in more throughly (gets taken in and fed to the colony) than pouring diesel or gas on their homesite enterances - that just makes them move. Make sure you don't have anything attractive to them outside if you can help it. (I swear they will find the dry dog food in minutes if you leave or feed your dog outside.)

I'm a long time former rural resident of Benton/Franklin County now in the SE USA so I'd trade the big sand ants for these itty bitty dreadful fire ants here anyday.

[mustang34]

Definitely not fire ants. When I was little, my family went to Miami with some of their friends. All the women were bitten by fire ants. These red ones are not fire ants. Also these ants (I refer to them as red ants) are only found in empty, arid land. So after putting your sod down, they will just move on.