Key Takeaways:
- Fire ants cause significant damage to electrical systems and HVAC units because they are attracted to electromagnetic fields and can cause short circuits.
- Unlike termites, fire ants do not eat wood; instead, they cause structural instability by excavating soil beneath foundations, driveways, and walkways.
- These ants pose a serious health risk to humans and animals due to their aggressive swarming behavior and venomous stings, which can cause anaphylaxis or secondary infections.
- Fire ants are highly invasive and can cause extensive agricultural and environmental damage by destroying crops and harming livestock.
- To prevent costly property damage and safety risks, visible infestations should be addressed immediately by professionals before the colony expands.
Can Fire Ants Damage Your House?
Fire ants typically nest in the soil in large colonies that can reach populations from tens of thousands to more than 200,000 individuals. They are known for their aggressive nature, especially near the nest, and as their name suggests, these tiny insects can inflict painful stings that feel like your skin is burning.
While they are moderately dangerous for their stinging ability, what about their ability to cause destruction? Can fire ants damage your house? The answer is yes, they can. While property destruction isn’t their main risk, there are a few specific instances where you should be aware of their destructive capabilities.
Let’s dig in and talk about fire ants and what types of damage they can cause to your house.
Are Fire Ants Destructive?
Fire ants can be unpredictable. Not all fire ants in Georgia are destructive, but some colonies will be.
Fire ants can infest and damage electrical equipment. Common examples include air conditioners, electric pumps, circuit breakers, switch boxes, and transformer boxes. They will also get into the phone wiring, and have been known to get electrocuted in such large numbers that it causes short circuits that breaks the equipment.
Fire ants will also damage plants, and, rarely, injure or kill small animals. They feed on young plants and seeds, which leads to farm losses. In the US, it is estimated they cause $6.7 billion per year in damage to the environment and agriculture.
If you have fire ants on your property, it’s important to know about their destructive potential. Here are the areas where they’re known to be most destructive:
- Electrical equipment (transformers, circuit breakers, HVAC units)
- Agricultural crops and seedlings
- Irrigation systems and tubing
- Livestock and ground-nesting wildlife
- Computer motherboards and relay switches
- Pavement and walkways (through soil displacement)
- Grass and ornamental turf
- Human skin (via stings/allergic reactions)
Do Fire Ants Cause Structural Damage to Houses and Buildings?
Yes, but fire ant damage is not like termite or carpenter ant damage. Termites and carpenter ants directly damage structures by consuming or excavating through wood.
In comparison, fire ants indirectly damage structures by burrowing through soil. When they dig their intricate nest structures near or under concrete slabs, driveways, or walkways, it can lead to cracking, instability, or even collapse of the pavement.
When they move inside to escape flooding or hot temperatures, fire ants may also damage drywall and insulation as they tunnel through to find comfortable shelter.
What Are the Main Risk Factors of Red Imported Fire Ants?
While fire ants have the potential to cause damage to homes and structures, the bigger risk is to people and animals. Fire ants use their potent venom to defend themselves against anything they feel is a threat.
This venom can cause anaphylactic shock or mild eczema to human beings, especially in young children, older people, and people with disabilities. In some cases, if the bite victim isn’t reacting well or there are lots of bites, emergency treatment may be warranted. If you or a loved one has been bitten, monitor the symptoms closely.
Pets, caged animals, and wild animals are also at risk of being bitten by red imported fire ants. This can be dangerous as the venom can cause death or irreversible injuries.
Risks to People
- Anaphylaxis: Approximately 1% to 2% of people are severely allergic to fire ant venom. This can lead to life-threatening respiratory failure, a drop in blood pressure, and cardiac arrest.
- Secondary Infections: Stings develop into sterile, white pustules within 24–48 hours. If these are scratched or broken, they can easily lead to stings becoming infected with bacteria like Staph or Strep.
- Mass Stinging Events: Because fire ants attack in large numbers, a single person can receive hundreds of stings in seconds. This is especially dangerous for infants, the elderly, or those with limited mobility who cannot quickly move away from a mound.
- Localized Necrosis: In rare cases, the venom can cause localized tissue death (necrosis) around the site of the stings.
Risks to Animals
- Pet Injury: If you have a fire ant nest in your backyard, try to keep pets out of the area if possible. A curious cat or dog can easily get stung, resulting in the same types of injuries people suffer. And because pets are smaller than people, the potency of the venom affects them much more.
- Blinding: Fire ants are attracted to moisture and frequently attack the eyes of animals. Repeated stings to the cornea can lead to permanent scarring, cataracts, or total blindness.
- Livestock Suffocation: Grazing livestock may accidentally inhale ants while eating or drinking. Swelling in the throat and nasal passages from internal stings can cause the animal to suffocate.
- Livestock Starvation and Dehydration: In heavily infested pastures, ants can blanket food and water sources. Animals may refuse to eat or drink to avoid being stung, leading to rapid decline in health.
- Young Animals: Newborn livestock are particularly at risk. If they are born near a mound, fire ants can overwhelm them before they are strong enough to stand and move away.
Preventing Fire Ants Can Help Prevent Property Damage
Fire ants can pose a really hazardous threat to you and your home, but you can prevent this!
When fire ants enter your property, there is no time to wait. By the time their mounds are visible, these intruders have been working hard for many months, overtaking your property from underneath. These pests have no respect for boundaries.
As soon as you spot fire ants in your yard, you need to address the problem immediately. Don’t delay, as the damage they cause can be very pricey. For a thorough inspection and dependable removal, call an experienced fire ant control company like American Pest Control in Athens, GA.
Our team of experts will treat your fire ant infestation, no matter how bad it has gotten. Our certified antexperts will work with you to find the best solution for your needs.
Fire Ant Damage FAQs
Fire ants are attracted to the electromagnetic fields emitted by electrical equipment. Once one ant is shocked, it releases an “alarm pheromone” that draws more ants to the site. They eventually swarm the area, causing short circuits or mechanical failure by nesting inside the unit.
Yes. While they prefer moist outdoor soil, fire ants often move indoors during extreme heat or heavy rain. They can enter through tiny cracks in the foundation or around utility lines and build nests within wall voids, where they are protected and close to food sources.
No, fire ants do not consume wood. However, they can cause structural issues by excavating the soil beneath foundations, driveways, and walkways, which may lead to settling or cracking. They may also nest in damp, decaying wood.
Fire ants are much more aggressive and are known for their painful, venomous stings that leave white pustules. Unlike common house ants, they build visible dirt mounds and will swarm anything that disturbs their nest.
It’s definitely possible. Fire ants frequently nest in outdoor AC condensers. Their presence can lead to clogged components, chewed wiring, and electrical shorts that may require expensive repairs or a total system replacement.
Yes. Since appearing in the US in the early 20th century, these invasive ants have crowded out native species.
They are most active in summer, invading homes in search of food and water. Once established, their high reproduction rate makes them difficult to eliminate.
They prefer nesting in moist soil, often creating visible mounds in yards or hidden nests under rocks, logs, or bricks. It takes several months for a colony to build a mound large enough to be noticed.
