Fire Ant Bites

[graciegirl]

A warning for those new to fire ants. I had forgotten how itchy-burny fire ant bites can be and how long they take to go away.


Please let me remind you to wear gloves when you weed and wear shoes in the yard and closed shoes on the golf course.


Those little varmints can really BITE. I have four this time, just from pulling a weed from under a bush before hopping into the car. They burn and blister and itch at the same time and it lingers for several days.

I want to know who blows that little whistle so they all sting at once?

[golfing eagles]

A warning for those new to fire ants. I had forgotten how itchy-burny fire ant bites can be and how long they take to go away.


Please let me remind you to wear gloves when you weed and wear shoes in the yard and closed shoes on the golf course.


Those little varmints can really BITE. I have four this time, just from pulling a weed from under a bush before hopping into the car. They burn and blister and itch at the same time and it lingers for several days.

I want to know who blows that little whistle so they all sting at once?

Fire ant biting team coach

[Arctic Fox]

A warning for those new to fire ants. I had forgotten how itchy-burny fire ant bites can be and how long they take to go away.

Have you found anything to put on the bites that helps alleviate the symptoms, GracieGirl?

[SoccerCoach]

[QUOTE=Arctic Fox;1089875]Have you found anything to put on the bites that helps alleviate the symptoms, GracieGirl?

Gracie, ask your pharmacist for "Men-Phor". Steroid free. It is not a prescription. Recommended to me by a pharmacist in Georgia after I accidentally stepped into a fire ant mound while exercising a horse.

[TVMayor]

Have you found anything to put on the bites that helps alleviate the symptoms, GracieGirl?
Wet the bite with bleach and let it dry, that gives it time to work.
Do not wait to do this.

[Cedwards38]

They got me once. It ain't pretty and it ain't fun. The best way I have found to deal with fire ants is.................hire someone else to do whatever, who knows what to look for and how to avoid them.

[jnieman]

I played night golf at Saddlebrook and stepped in a fire ant hill. Got several bites. One got infected and I had to get antibiotics from the doctor. It lasted about 6 weeks.

[The Buckeyes]

What do they look like compared to regular ants.

[duffysmom]

Beware of the Bugs: Fire Ants Can Kill Americans - ABC News (http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Health/story?id=2143091)

[Larina]

My neighbor told me of a home remedy for fire ant bites, seems to work well for me when I get bit. Spray WD40 on the bites and rub it in for several minutes. You might have to do it 2-3 times but for me the stinging and the bites went away within about 20 minutes after the first application. Worth a try.

[Sable99]

We put Absorbine Junior on red ants. Takes away the stnig in minutes. Not sure if it would work on fire ants.

[graciegirl]

I have been icing them down and using a medication prescribed for another area with benzocaine. It helps but they are nasty. I also take an oral allergy pill. I had forgotten how much they hurt.


Sissy Gracie.

[Jim 9922]

My neighbor told me of a home remedy for fire ant bites, seems to work well for me when I get bit. Spray WD40 on the bites and rub it in for several minutes. You might have to do it 2-3 times but for me the stinging and the bites went away within about 20 minutes after the first application. Worth a try.
You mean that this is one thing Duct Tape won't fix??:grumpy:

[Doro22]

My husband & I were pulling some weeds in the beds around trees about3 months ago and got terrible stinging on hands. We are pretty sure it was stinging nettles. Ouch!!

[villagetinker]

You mean that this is one thing Duct Tape won't fix??:grumpy:

Only if you apply it first....maybe sticky side out....:smiley:

[jnieman]

My husband & I were pulling some weeds in the beds around trees about3 months ago and got terrible stinging on hands. We are pretty sure it was stinging nettles. Ouch!!

As a kid we had lots of nettles on our property. They would bite like a mosquito. Leave a welt. We used rubbing alcohol on them and it helped a lot. I would scratch them then put on the alcohol. It would burn really bad but they would stop itching.

[Chi-Town]

The good news is that fire ants may be on the way out. That may be the bad news also. Look out for crazy ants.

The Rise of the Crazy Ants - Scientific American (http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-rise-of-the-crazy-ants/)

[mixsonci]

Now I know why I never do any yard work. Darn good excuse

[Doctor Who]

I was bitten several years ago at a friends home. Felt one bite and looked down to see hundreds on my leg. Sprayed them off with a hose and the hostess applied vinegar to the bites. It did hurt for about 2 hours but the bites did not seem to blister. As a sidelight I ended up with shingles about a week later. These ants can certainly effect your autoimmune system.

[Sandtrap328]

The fire ant sting is an acid based chemical. Neutralize it by dabbing on ammonia with cotton balls. That will take the itching and burning away. Look for any infection signs and go to your doctor if it seems infected.

Best idea - don't pull weeds - have your wife do it! No, no, I didn't mean it!

[SouthOfTheBorder]

We moved from Western PA to GA in the late 70's, where we lived for 35 years.

Soon learned fire ant bites were thought of as a rite-of-passage for newcomers by GA locals. :D

From our experiences the results last 2-3 weeks and can end up with small scab where the "zit" was located. For us they completely heal and leave no sign of the original bite. I am sure if you have any sensitivity to bites/stings it can be more than a nuisance.

We have used the ammonia and then toothache gel to help stop the itching that is part of the healing process.

Working in the landscape or even searching for an errant golf ball can result in bite or two. I've had a few bites here in TV during the past couple of years doing both.

Good incentive to stay in bounds!

Don

[Gerald]

I always suggest seeing your doctor. Just in case you are sensitive to the bites. Only a doctor will know the correct solution.

[dp000]

After Bite works great...comes in a stick. We keep it in our golf carts and golf bags.