Fire ants are stinging ants that are commonly found in your garden or outdoors. They normally do not interfere with humans and mind their own business. However, they can reveal their aggressive nature when they feel threatened or provoked around their nest.
If the fire ants are made to trigger their defensive mode, they can swarm after you with their poisonous stinger. To remain on the safe side, it is very crucial to identify them and have the proper knowledge to treat their painful bites and stings.
Well, this must be very painful. If you got stung by the fire ant then there might be a stinger stuck into your skin. Since fire ants are worker ants, their stinger is tightly fixed to your skin. You might've tried jumping into the water or flowing running water over them but this is not going to help you.
It has been found that slapping or brushing the ants off of your skin might be more productive. For this, you need to quickly rub them off using a bit more energy with your hand or some cloth and you can remove the stinger off of your skin.
2. Clean the Area
Another important thing, you shouldn't ignore is to look after the hygiene around the stung area. You need to completely avoid the risk of getting a fatal infection by properly cleaning the affected area. Make use of soap and water to wash the stung area thoroughly.
This will ensure the removal of venom residue, dirt, and bacteria around your wound. Keep in mind to avoid the frequent scratching of the wound that might lead to harmful bacterial infections. If you wash the affected area properly you will eventually heal the wound quickly.
After cleaning the sting area, you now have to grab some ice packs. Since the fire ant bites might be inducing an itchy lump around the sting area, you need to soothe it by gently applying the ice packs around the affected area.
It is recommended to apply a cold compress on the area within the interval of 15 minutes on and off. You can make use of a soft cloth wrapped around the ice pack because direct application of ice on your wounded naked skin might cause the skin to burn.
4. Elevate the Affected Area
Elevating the affected area simply means raising the stung portion to a comfortable height so that proper blood circulation occurs in your body. This can help in the reduction of swelling and minimize the level of discomfort that has resulted from the fire ant bites.
If the blood and fluid consisting of venom accumulate in the stung area, it might lead to severe swelling and painful experiences for the victim. In fact, it is recommended to raise the limb where you've gotten stung, above the level of the heart, if possible for smooth blood circulation.
You can lean on lemon juice to help cope with the problems generated by the fire ant bites. The lemon juice possesses remarkable antibacterial and anti-itch properties that can help soothe your irritated skin, providing a great relief. Lemon juice has been found to contain useful citric acid and vitamin C.
If you've been stung by the fire ant then hurriedly grab a lemon from your refrigerator. You need to squeeze it and collect the juice on a spoon. Now, prepare a solution of this juice and water, and apply gently on the affected area. After leaving it for some minutes, you can feel the excellent result.
6. Use Aloe Vera Gel
Aloe vera gel is the extraction from the leaves of the aloe vera plant. This plant has been helping human civilization since ages for almost all sorts of irritation to the skin. This plant, having anti-inflammatory effects, offers exceptional soothing qualities to help you get rid from the itching and redness caused by the fire ant bites.
Having high water content, the gel of aloe vera can create a protective layer over the skin while penetrating deep into its layers, once applied in the affected area. It has ben found to hydrate the punctured skin while helping it to minimize the inflammation caused by the fire ant bites.
Essential oils possess essence of the natural plants. These oils are extracted from the chemicals of the selected plants. The oils of plants like lavender, tea tree, and peppermint has been offering their healing properties, proving a huge relief.
Here are some usefulness of the oils generated from these plants, especially for treating fire ant bites:
Lavender Oil
The antiseptic properties of the lavender oil can prevent the wound from getting bacterial infection while its soothing aroma can create a calming effect.
This oil can be applied gently over the sting area with a few drops, especially for the fire ant bites. This can immediately help the victim with the reduction in swelling and redness. Further, you can get great relief from the discomfort caused by the red ant bites.
Tea Tree Oil
Another very useful plant known for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties against fire ant bites is tea tree oil. People have been using the oil of the tea tree for a pretty long period of time to get rid of the infection on the wounds created by the red ant bites.
Moreover, this oil has also been successful in reducing the itching and swelling of the affected area if applied carefully and accurately. You should apply it only after seeking professional help because it contains potential allergic reactions.
Peppermint Oil
Peppermint oil leads the list when you look out for some of the popular and useful essential oils. This oil is found to show remarkable effectiveness in combating the aftermath of fire ant bites.
The oil of peppermint has been found to provide excellent cooling sensation that can effectively numb the sting area. In addition to that, the inflammation caused by red ant bites can be lowered by peppermint oil to some significant extent.
One of the most effective home treatments for the effects of red ant stings is honey. Honey is a good source of microorganisms and antibacterial to prevent bacteria and also the allergy that is usually developed by ant sting.
What you need to do is to take a spoonful of honey and with that honey dress the wound such that it is covered completely. Then you need to leave it still for some minutes or an hour depending on the wound. To avoid the liquid getting spilled you can use the soft cloth over the applied area and watch the miracle happen.
9. Apply Vinegar
Vinegar, whether you go for apple cider or white vinegar, has been found highly rich in anti-microbial and anti-bacterial properties. Additionally, the acidic properties of vinegar help the wound to relieve itching while reducing the risk of infection.
It is suggested to be applied right after the red ant stings you. You just need to dilute the vinegar with the water in a ratio of 1:1 before applying it to the sting area using a cotton ball soaked in the solution. This will do the same work as that of honey on your wound. So, in the absence of honey, you can go for vinegar and relieve the pain caused by red and stinger.
We're pretty sure baking soda is somewhere there in your kitchen. It shouldn't surprise you, baking soda can suppress the inflammation caused by your wound. In fact, it tends to dry out the reaction of venom injected by the fire ant stinger. People have been widely using baking soda to reduce itching and inflammation.
You just need to go for baking soda in your kitchen after the red ant stings you. Simply mix a small amount of baking soda with water creating a thick paste. Try applying this paste on your affected skin and leave it there for some minutes to dry. This paste will suck out all the redness and inflammation caused by the red ant stinger, making your skin fresh.
11. Herbal Tea
Herbal tea is a popular home ingredient commonly available in every household of tea lovers. This tea is full of antioxidants due to its herbal nature that can ease the pain and suffering of the wounded skin. It has been found to work best in reducing swelling and inflammation caused by fire ant bites.
People have been using chamomile tea quite popularly these days for its soothing effects. You can prepare a cup of tea just the way you prepare it to drink and let it cool off. Then, try applying the cold tea using a soft cotton ball on the affected area. You can also go for the used tea bags directly on the sting area.
12. Cucumber Slices
Cucumber is a quite popular element during the relaxation spa. You must have used yourself as well when sunbathing. It is not new to you that the cucumber slices generate a soothing and cooling sensation. These properties of cucumber can be used to generate the same effects on your burning sting as well.
From now on, don't hesitate to run toward the refrigerator to take the cucumber out if the red ant bites you. Make sure to cut it into slices and place it on the affected area. This will provide you with the needed relief with a cooling sensation.
You might be surprised to hear that toothpaste can actually take part in relieving the pain resulting from the red ant stinger. Toothpaste has been found to possess menthol in it that provides a cooling effect. In fact, menthol has anti-inflammatory properties which help to reduce severe inflammation.
In addition to that, toothpaste is also found to retain the original texture and color of your skin if applied immediately on your wounded skin. You need to apply the paste on the affected area and leave it for some time. You will see the amazing results in no time. Keep in mind not to overdo the process because some toothpaste has been found to induce harsh reactions on your skin.
14. Make Use of Your Cooking Salt
Yes, your cooking salt is not only made to add taste to your culinary items, it has several other benefits. If applied properly on the sting area, the salt can help to reduce the swelling and redness caused by the fire ant bites. Since salt is the most common element in your kitchen, you can make use of it in the most useful way for home remedies.
You need to prepare a thick paste of salt and water and apply it to the sting area. Make sure it reaches the wound and deep down under your skin for an effective result. You will notice your sting pain goes away in less time than you anticipated.
Garlic and onion are the easily available vegetables in your kitchen. You can make use of them in several home remedies in addition to their inclusion in your dishes. These vegetables are found to act as a pain-relief element for any type of ant bite caused by the insects including fire ants.
You need to grab some garlic cloves and onion slices from your kitchen immediately after the ant sting. Make sure to crush them down to extract juices and gently apply them to the affected area. You can make use of a cotton ball or soft cloth over the area on your skin to hold the juice exactly in the location of the wound.
What Do Fire Ant Bites Look Like
For you to identify the fire ant bites, you need to understand the symptoms and reactions generated by the red ant stinger. In addition, they can be identified through the appearance of the sting and the ant's behavior.
Let's initially figure out the appearance of the sting and the behavior of the fire ant.
Sting appearance
The fire ant is found to grasp the skin of the victim with their mandibles allowing themselves to insert their sting. The stinger of the red ant is not barbed, unlike that of the bees, thus, they can sting repeatedly and still survive.
If a red ant stings you, you're most likely to develop a small, red, pimple-like mark on your skin which over time becomes a small blister.
Fire Ant Behavior
Fire ants are generally aggressive creatures living in their nest forming a colony. They often attack in huge numbers to sting, if not removed they can sting you multiple times producing a burning sensation with red welts on your skin. These red ants are usually attracted to the sweet secretions of plants, debris, and litter left by humans.
The fire red ants are known to be very active and aggressive and will kill other insects and small animals for food. The symptoms of the fire ant sting entirely depend upon the sensitivity of the person, location, and frequency of the sting.
Now, let us discuss the symptoms an individual is likely to possess after the fire ant stings:
Localized Reaction
Once an individual is stung by the fire ants, he/she is likely to develop localized hives or single lumps at the sting sites with a burning sensation. This bump usually disappears in about an hour giving rise to the small blisters on your skin. This might take some hours to appear.
After a couple of days, you might see a pus-like substance developed on the blisters which when healed after some days, are more likely to leave scars on your skin.
When to Seek Medical Help
There are some allergic symptoms a sensitive person might develop after the fire ant stings. Some of the common symptoms for this severe case have been found as:
Apart from the sting area, other areas of your body may induce itching and swelling.
There might occur swelling of the tongue or throat making it difficult to swallow.
The simple and genuine answer to this question is that they need to protect their colony and capture the prey for food. Fire ants are naturally more aggressive than most of the native species. The queen ant is responsible for reproduction while the males are usually workers.
Upon receiving any potential threat to their colony, these ants attack the intruder in large numbers by biting and stinging. Similarly, when catching their prey for food, they kill other insects and small animals by biting their skin and holding on to it to inject the venom. Most often, people get caught by the red ants when their nest is disturbed knowingly or unknowingly.
How to Avoid Fire Ant Stings
Some of the effective strategies you can adopt to prevent from getting stung by the poisonous fire ants are listed below. You should always remember prevention is better than cure!
You need to take extra caution while working outdoors such as in your garden or yard. Be gentle with whatever you're doing. You might provoke the red ants through your negligence and hurriedness.
Make sure you've applied insect repellent to your exposed skin and clothes when doing outdoor activities.
Always be careful when you lift anything off the ground, such as logs or any woody items. Fire ants might have built their nest on such materials.
If you suspect any potential signs of a nest or colony or any single one of them around your property, make sure to contact a pest control professional and let them do their job.
Do not take things into your bare hands, keep in mind not to disturb their nests and colonies.
Fire ants often roam around your garden seeking food, so make sure you wear protective clothing before heading towards it.
When you go outside, always remember to wear the shoes.
