Fire ants costly to economy

Fire ants guard their nest and attack intruders with a relentless spirit and a fierce bite. Maybe it's time to start thinking about protecting your own house that way.

The annual effect on the economy, the environment and the quality of life from the red imported fire ant is estimated at $6 billion in the U.S., according to surveys conducted by agricultural economists at Texas A&M University.

Fire ants are harmful to one's wallet.

Fire ants travel through the smallest openings to come indoors. While many people view them as the public nuisance and health threat they are, some don't realize how much damage fire ants can cause.

Electrical equipment often is a target for fire ants. Chewing through the insulation and causing short circuits in everything from traffic signal boxes to airport runway lights, fire ants not only nest in these areas, they move soil into them causing mechanical problems.

These pests also move into neighborhoods and homes in search of food and moisture. They crawl through voids in walls or rafters and set up family members.

The best way to prevent fire ants from becoming a problem is to use a broadcast treatment. Stopping mounds from popping up in one's area will put an end to costly damage and the threat of fire ants in one's home before it begins.

Taking time to caulk crevices and seal doors and windows properly also are great ways to keep fire ants out of the home.