This is UGLY

[Caryc]

Out getting rid of some dove weed the other day and was stung by a fire ant. He stung me once and I rubbed the spot on my Levis briskly trying to kill it. I must have just pi$$ed him off, a couple seconds later he stung me again. I finally pulled down my pants and luckily I had on a pair of thin work gloves on and plucked him off me. What you see in the photo is the spot on the fourth morning, That was this morning and I finally went to a doctor. He gave me a ten day supply of an antibiotic. To answer the question you're thinking, I waited so long because I was hoping the thing would start getting smaller but, it still just kept growing.

This is may first dealing with a fire ant and hopefully my last. I usually put some velco straps on the cuffs of my pants when working outside. I will never forget to use them again. It was hard and hot and itched like crazy.

 

[RobCons]

Fire ants are just part of my life I guess. After a small rain mounds pop up like crazy.

 

[miner09]

We have them also. When I get bit it only makes a small blister about the size of pin head. Never like your sting.

 

[Hobo,NC]

Out getting rid of some dove weed the other day and was stung by a fire ant. He stung me once and I rubbed the spot on my Levis briskly trying to kill it. I must have just pi$$ed him off, a couple seconds later he stung me again. I finally pulled down my pants and luckily I had on a pair of thin work gloves on and plucked him off me. What you see in the photo is the spot on the fourth morning, That was this morning and I finally went to a doctor. He gave me a ten day supply of an antibiotic. To answer the question you're thinking, I waited so long because I was hoping the thing would start getting smaller but, it still just kept growing.

This is may first dealing with a fire ant and hopefully my last. I usually put some velco straps on the cuffs of my pants when working outside. I will never forget to use them again. It was hard and hot and itched like crazy.

About 7 years ago I got hit over 100 times from the knee up to my special purpose it happen about 1:00 PM as i was loading up a tractor. At 1 am I woke up with a pounding heart so off to the ER I went. I had forgot about the fire ant deal at 5am my leg started to burn at that time I knew what caused my heart to hurt. They did damage my heart.

On the 4th day I was in misery a bud came up I told him about it. He told me to go put vinegar on the sores and take a benadryl . The itch and the burn went right away, the next day the sores dried up. I am a firm believer in the vinegar trick as I have put it on the grand kids after a bite and the bite never amounted to anything. They said they never itched. I have found the same when I get hit by them.

We have fire ants year around I hut for them most every day in the summer and fall. Now go get that vinegar and rub it down.

 

[Caryc]

I tried taking Benedryl and it didn't seem to do anything. The doctor said it was cellulitis which is an infection. An insect can not give you that. It is probably caused by scatching the bite site and letting bacteria get into it.

 

[Hobo,NC]

My mom had bouts with cellulitis it would just flair up.

 

[37chief]

After reading this I hope they stay in your part of the US. The only thing like this I have to worry about is bee stings. Stan

 

[SweetFeet]

Out getting rid of some dove weed the other day and was stung by a fire ant. He stung me once and I rubbed the spot on my Levis briskly trying to kill it. I must have just pi$$ed him off, a couple seconds later he stung me again. I finally pulled down my pants and luckily I had on a pair of thin work gloves on and plucked him off me. What you see in the photo is the spot on the fourth morning, That was this morning and I finally went to a doctor. He gave me a ten day supply of an antibiotic. To answer the question you're thinking, I waited so long because I was hoping the thing would start getting smaller but, it still just kept growing.

This is may first dealing with a fire ant and hopefully my last. I usually put some velco straps on the cuffs of my pants when working outside. I will never forget to use them again. It was hard and hot and itched like crazy.

Are you certain it was a fire ant? Any chance you have brown recluse spiders in your area? Their bite causes necrotic flesh, then infection.

 

[used red MN]

What I hate is the chigger bites I get going into grassy areas on my mom’s farm in NE Kansas. You don’t know your getting them until that night when your trying to sleep. Then it’s “itchy city” usually around your ankles, back of your knees, groin area and waist band. Never have severe effects like that, but usually the irritation last about a week.

 

[MarkB_MI]

If you're sensitive to insect bites and stings, you should probably carry an EpiPen. Ask your doctor about it the next time you see him.

 

[Tx Jim]

We have them also. When I get bit it only makes a small blister about the size of pin head. Never like your sting.

Ditto I've been bite by Fire ants many times when laying on ground under rd baler attempting to solve feeding or twine problem. I only received bites/sting that forms into a pimple.

 

[wp6529]

Ditto I've been bite by Fire ants many times when laying on ground under rd baler attempting to solve feeding or twine problem. I only received bites/sting that forms into a pimple.

Same, just a minor little pimple and no real itch. Chiggers on the other hand really bug me.

 

[Watthour]

That kind of thing is why I don't get too upset when the thermometer drops to -30° in January. Some of those pests don't live around here because of that. It's bad enough that ticks seem to survive it, but I've seen enough of the fire ant stories to not want to get involved.

 

[Tony in SD]

Fortunately there are no fire ants in South Dakota. Might have something to do with our very cold winters. Which is an acceptable trade off for me.

 

[used red MN]

Fortunately there are no fire ants in South Dakota. Might have something to do with our very cold winters. Which is an acceptable trade off for me.

Fire ants are claimed to be found only in these states, Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Puerto Rico.

 

[Hobo,NC]

Fire ants are claimed to be found only in these states, Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Puerto Rico.

They showed up here in the early mid 90's some say Hurricane Hugo brought them in from S.C.. They could have been transported in are migrated I don't know. You will not see them much till we get a lot of rain when it's a lot of rain their mounds pop up everywhere. I know of several folks that died from the reactions from mutable bites I was almost one. If you don't control them they will get into your house. They like sun and are not found in shady areas much so you can predict where you will find them. Sometimes they will fool you and pop up in places you normally will not find them.

Its a constant battle to stay after them are have your yard sprayed 3/4 times a year.

 

[used red MN]

They showed up here in the early mid 90's some say Hurricane Hugo brought them in from S.C.. They could have been transported in are migrated I don't know. You will not see them much till we get a lot of rain when it's a lot of rain their mounds pop up everywhere. I know of several folks that died from the reactions from mutable bites I was almost one. If you don't control them they will get into your house. They like sun and are not found in shady areas much so you can predict where you will find them. Sometimes they will fool you and pop up in places you normally will not find them.

Its a constant battle to stay after them are have your yard sprayed 3/4 times a year.

I know many don’t like to say, but “here” is where?

 

[Hobo,NC]

I know many don’t like to say, but “here” is where?

Look at my avatar : ) Central NC

 

[used red MN]

Look at my avatar : ) Central NC

Ya, duh… practice what you preach idiot! (to be clear sarcasm to self)

 

[Jim in LA]

Fire ants are just part of my life I guess. After a small rain mounds pop up like crazy.

We have had a week of showers and mid 80s with very high humidity and it has been perfect weather for them building mounds and the mosquitoes are thriving.