On 12/19/2010 4:19 PM, Oren wrote:
On Sun, 19 Dec 2010 14:29:59 -0500, Edward Reid
wrote:

The person I talked to is sending the details to an expert
in urban ants (or something like that) and they'll follow-up with me
with more info.

Very good idea. In particular verify the identification. In the
southern US, "fire ant" usually means Solenopsis invicta, the South
American invader, but some people use the term for any stinging ant.
Did the stings you received result in white welts, that look like
large pimples, after 24 hours, and take a couple of weeks to heal?
That would be strong evidence that they are indeed S. invicta.

The larger "fire ant" (Florida), that leaves a white pustule welt, my
grandfather called 'em "**** ants". When asked why: "They bite the
**** out of you."

"Fire ants" can be of various sizes.

Chart: (Queen is on the right)

http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/images/Biosecurity_EnvironmentalPests/FireAnts-RIFATexas-UniQueen-And-WorkerSizes-500.jpg


I found two websites with extensive and helpful info about fire ants,
one for Florida, one for Texas, below. The Texas site also has an email
addy for assistance/questions - it would be the logical place to go for
a domestic infestation problem. The Texas site gives info about NATIVE
Texas fire ants (not a huge problem) and the imported ants, as well as
control advice. They also recommend Amdro (and some other controls) for
indoor problems.


http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/lh059

http://uts.cc.utexas.edu/~gilbert/re...ts/faqans.html