Floating fire ant piles? Yes. It’s a thing especially after big storms that cause flooding like Hurricane Helene has in Southwest Florida.
It’s another reason to beware of going into the water, beyond the concerns about other threats from the health department.
Floating fire ant piles: What to know
According to Lourdes Mederos , University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), communications:
- Heavy rains create flooding, signaling insects and vertebrate pests to seek higher and drier grounds.
- Precipitation drives pests like cockroaches, spiders, and rodents indoors in search of a safe space.
- Floods also cause red imported fire ants to form floating “rafts,” which can pose a painful hazard for anyone cleaning up after the storm.
- The red imported fire ant is a prominent pest ant in Florida, most recognizable for its nasty sting, but takes a unique approach to dealing with flooding.
- These ants, which live in colonies of tens of thousands of individuals, nest in the ground, and when flooding occurs, will form “rafts” by interlocking their bodies and floating on the surface of the water until they find higher ground.
- People can encounter these fire ant rafts when cleaning up flooded areas or when rafts come in contact with a structure.
- Vertebrate pests like rodents and wildlife can also be displaced by flooding, which can make them more likely to enter a structure.