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Fire ants are truly fair weather bugs in that they
only like certain weather conditions. Understanding their weather preferences
will help you control them and track their movement.
Weather-Related Tidbits to Use in Your Fight Against
Fire Ants
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Fire ants LOVE warm, moist climates. |
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Fire ants cannot survive in very cold
temperatures. Generally, they cannot exist in areas where the temperature
drops below 10°F.
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During very hot and dry weather, fire
ants can survive. However, they tend to stay below ground where it
is typically cooler and more moist. If necessary, they may dig even
further down to reach these optimum living conditions.
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Fire ants HATE excessive water. After
a heavy rainstorm, mounds may seem to appear overnight. This is because
fire ants build up their mounds to keep their eggs and larvae out
of and above the water.
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What Does All This Mean to
You?
It means that fire ants will be the biggest nuisance during the fall and
spring when the weather is warm and moist. It also means that fire ant expansion
is limited due to their lack of resistance to cold weather. This is good
news for northern states but bad news for those in the southern
belt. |
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