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ANTS - are social insects and live in colonies. Ant colonies build structures called nests, many prefer to nest in the ground while some nest in wood. Four of the most common ants are: Carpenter, Argentine, Pavement and Pharroh. Successful management requires identifcation of the species. A typical ant colony can contain thousands of members. So, seeing just a few, can mean there are more.
FIRE ANTS - There are 2 main types of imported Fire Ants: red and black. The black type is thought to have arrive in Mobile, Ala in dirt that was used as ship's ballast. One fire ant colony can contained between 10,000 and 300,000 worker ants. It's believed fire ants have spread some 275 million acres mostly into the Southeast. The aggressive predators crow out native ants, live in the ground. They are recognizeable by the mounds they build above ground. | |
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Black Widow Spider - The female is identified by the RED Hour Glass shape found on the underside of the abdomen. An adult is about 2 1/2 inches long. The male is much smaller and has light streaks on the abdomen. The eggs sac which can contain many hundred eggs is kept on the spiders web and protected by the female which can become very agressive if it feels threatened. The venom from the Black Widow is poisionous, if biten seek medical attention.
The Brown Recluse has a black line that looks like the neck of a violin hence the name "fiddel back, brown fiddler spider, violin spider. Although there are plenty of other spiders wth similar markings. Recluses can be distinguished from others because they have no coloration on their abdomen and legs. They also have 6 eyes arranged in pairs. Bites are rare but can cause serious wounds and infections - seek medical help if bitten. The good news is there are several look alikes that also bite and are not poisonous. They can be found under rocks, logs and wood piles. They hunt at night and do not employ the use of webs. They are reclusive and try to stay out of sight during the day. Webs are used primairly for egg sacs - females stay nearby to the web and eggs and may inadvertently wander into a nearby shoe or closet seeking food or water. | |
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