Black fire ants.

[Taltarzac725]

I was walking around the Lynnhaven pool on the grass with my pooch with my sandals and bare feet yesterday afternoon and felt a sharp jab into my toe. It was like stepping into a needle.

I looked down and my right foot was covered with about 30 black ants. I brushed these off as quickly as I could. I also looked over my pooch to see if any ants got on him. Fortunately, he missed the group. I never saw any kind of ant mound.

My foot started hurting quite soon after that. I followed what some Internet sites said about treatment for ant bites.

Today I saw the tell-tale white pimple like signs of fire ant bites. I only got about 10 bites on my toes but they sure itch and sting.

I did not know fire ants come in both black and red. These black ant bites are actually worse than the red ant ones I have had before.

I will be more careful from now on and look out for red as well as black fire ants.

Fire ants are active and ready to bite | Highlands Today (http://www2.highlandstoday.com/business/agri-leader/2012/jun/20/lrnewso1-fire-ants-are-active-and-ready-to-bite-ar-417923/)

[The Shadow]

Put Clorox on bite immediately and let dry. The pain will stop and it will be red for a couple of days.

[hotrodgirl]

I have been bitten by fire ants and had such an allergic reaction I ended up on 2 rounds of steroids. But if you are not so inclined, Benadryl should help with the itching! Sorry you were bitten. It is quite painful as you stated :-(

[Dancing Queen]

Thanks for the heads up.
Hope you heal and feel better soon.

[graciegirl]

Tal. Put hydrocortozone cream on them. They hurt and itched bad for a week and I did try the bleach. Didn't work.

[The Great Fumar]

Ok , here is Fumar's treatment for fire ant bites.....
FELS-NAPTHA SOAPuse water to make a little paste and rub it in.....
It works better than anything else ever concocted.........
It also works well on dog bites which is a bigger problem than ants.....
I always carry a bar in my golf cart in case I ever go by doggy-do-whatcha ma callit................

thats as nice as I'm going to get.....

fumar...........:loco:

[Bogie Shooter]

Ok , here is Fumar's treatment for fire ant bites.....
FELS-NAPTHA SOAPuse water to make a little paste and rub it in.....
It works better than anything else ever concocted.........
It also works well on dog bites which is a bigger problem than ants.....
I always carry a bar in my golf cart in case I ever go by doggy-do-whatcha ma callit................

thats as nice as I'm going to get.....

fumar...........:loco:

Fumar...............glad to see you back!

[Taltarzac725]

Ok , here is Fumar's treatment for fire ant bites.....
FELS-NAPTHA SOAPuse water to make a little paste and rub it in.....
It works better than anything else ever concocted.........
It also works well on dog bites which is a bigger problem than ants.....
I always carry a bar in my golf cart in case I ever go by doggy-do-whatcha ma callit................

thats as nice as I'm going to get.....

fumar...........:loco:

Welcome back Fumar. I thought you would Bounce back soon.

[mrdills]

This is the best keep secret, I alway take a small tub of toothpaste with me when I go golfing, when they bite, I just spread it on the sting and in no time it goes away. I have no idea who stated this but it works.

[Taltarzac725]

This is the best keep secret, I alway take a small tub of toothpaste with me when I go golfing, when they bite, I just spread it on the sting and in no time it goes away. I have no idea who stated this but it works.

Bug Bite? Reach for the toothpaste. | Farmers' Almanac (http://www.farmersalmanac.com/health/2008/04/28/bug-bite-reach-for-the-toothpaste/)

[Villages PL]

I hope you will consider wearing shoes and socks when walking in grassy areas in the future. A foot on a sandal is like an open-face sandwich.

[batman911]

I hope you will consider wearing shoes and socks when walking in grassy areas in the future. A foot on a sandal is like an open-face sandwich.

But then you will not feel them crawling until they get in your nickers, YIPES!

[Joaniesmom]

Now I'm panicking about walking my tiny dogs. What do other owners of little dogs do? Mine are multi-talented and can use wee-wee pads indoors if necessary. The thought of them getting covered with these awful stinging ants is making me sick! Any advice is definitely appreciated. BTW, the little ladies are 3 and 6 pounds. Thanks!

[Taltarzac725]

Now I'm panicking about walking my tiny dogs. What do other owners of little dogs do? Mine are multi-talented and can use wee-wee pads indoors if necessary. The thought of them getting covered with these awful stinging ants is making me sick! Any advice is definitely appreciated. BTW, the little ladies are 3 and 6 pounds. Thanks!

Just have to watch out for any ant mounds. I have been walking my pooch around Lynnhaven pool for almost 5.5 years and this is the first time I have been stung by these fire ants.

I must have hit a scouting party as there were no mounds around.

I will be wearing boots and socks from now on when going to the postal center.

If I were more worried about not seeing the mounds or running into another scouting party of fire ants, I would just keep the pooches near the sidewalks at the postal centers.

[graciegirl]

Just have to watch out for any ant mounds. I have been walking my pooch around Lynnhaven pool for almost 5.5 years and this is the first time I have been stung by these fire ants.

I must have hit a scouting party as there were no mounds around.

I will be wearing boots and socks from now on when going to the postal center.

Tal. They are vicious litlle b*******, I mean bugs. If one stings you they yell for the rest to attack and they have to be SCRAPED off. I got the itchy, hurty, reaction that developed into pustules that they urge you not to open. I was weeding and digging out Zoysia and a group of them thought I belonged to the other political party and ten or eleven of them piled on. My hand hurt for seven whole days. I used hydrocortozone and an effective non itch thing I got at the drug store called Sarna.

I feel for you! I will be wearing gloves and using a poking stick to pull back mulch from now on.

Joaniesmom. We have lived here for five years and I had just the one episode with them. Avoid the obvious mounds. Have your pest guy come when you see ant hills. They are very obvious. Don't let your pooches dig.