Fire Ants
Solenopsis invicta
insectsHow to Identify
Red imported fire ants are reddish-brown to reddish-black, ranging from 1/16 to 1/4 inch long. A colony contains workers of multiple sizes (polymorphic). They are aggressive when their mound is disturbed, swarming and stinging repeatedly. Their mounds are dome-shaped, made of loose soil, and can reach 18 inches high with no visible entry hole on top.
Signs of Infestation
The most obvious sign is the presence of dome-shaped soil mounds in sunny areas of your yard, along sidewalks, driveways, and foundation edges. Mounds often appear after rainfall. You may also notice fire ant trails along landscape edges and near outdoor pet food or water bowls. Multiple mounds in a yard indicate a well-established colony network.
Health Risks
In Myrtle Beach, SC, fire ant stings cause immediate burning pain followed by itchy pustules that can last for days. Multiple stings are common because disturbed fire ants swarm aggressively. Allergic reactions can range from localized swelling to life-threatening anaphylaxis in sensitized individuals. Fire ants are particularly dangerous to young children, elderly individuals, and pets who may stumble into a mound while enjoying the Grand Strand's outdoor spaces.
Our Treatment Method
Myrtle Beach Pest Control uses a two-step approach to eliminate fire ants: broadcast bait application across your Grand Strand property to reduce the overall colony population, followed by individual mound treatments for remaining active mounds. Our bait products use slow-acting insect growth regulators that are carried back to the queen. For immediate relief, we apply liquid drench treatments directly to active mounds near high-traffic areas.
Prevention Tips
In Myrtle Beach, treat your yard with broadcast bait twice yearly in spring and fall to prevent fire ant infestations. Keep mulch beds thin (under 3 inches) and at least 12 inches from your foundation to discourage nesting. Inspect around AC units, utility boxes, and landscape timbers regularly for signs of activity. Teach children to recognize and avoid mounds while playing in yards and parks across the Grand Strand.
Habitat
Fire ants thrive in Myrtle Beach's open, sunny areas with well-drained, sandy soil. They commonly build mounds in lawns, gardens, along sidewalks and driveways, next to foundations, and around utility boxes. They are attracted to electrical equipment and can cause damage to HVAC units, well pumps, and transformer boxes. The warm, subtropical climate and sandy conditions of the Grand Strand provide an ideal environment for fire ant colonies.
Peak activity: Spring-Fall
Identification Photos
Frequently Asked Questions About Fire Ants
Fire ants build their tunnels deep underground. After heavy rain, common in Myrtle Beach, SC, saturates the sandy soil, they push loose soil to the surface to rebuild and ventilate their colony, making mounds suddenly visible. The colonies were already there — rain just reveals them.
For most people in the Myrtle Beach area, fire ant stings cause painful, itchy pustules that resolve in a week. However, about 1% of the population is at risk for anaphylaxis — a life-threatening allergic reaction. Anyone who experiences dizziness, difficulty breathing, or swelling away from the sting site should seek emergency medical care at a local hospital or clinic.
Fire ants are attracted to electrical fields and have been documented causing short circuits in HVAC units, well pumps, transformer boxes, and even traffic signal boxes along Highway 17 in Myrtle Beach. They can also damage irrigation systems, crucial for maintaining lawns in our subtropical climate, and undermine concrete slabs by nesting beneath them.
Do not disturb the mound with shovels or water — this scatters the colony and triggers aggressive swarming, a common occurrence in Myrtle Beach yards. Myrtle Beach Pest Control's professional two-step treatment (broadcast bait + targeted mound drench) eliminates colonies at the source. Over-the-counter products often only kill surface workers while the queen continues producing eggs underground.
Related Pests
Confused About What You're Seeing?
Flying Ants vs. Termites — compare side by side to know for sure.
Open Comparison ToolDon't Let Pests Win.
Take Back Your Home Today.
Every day you wait gives pests more time to multiply and cause damage. Our licensed technicians are ready to help — often the same day you call.
Free Inspection
No cost, no obligation
Same-Day Service
Fast response guaranteed
Eco-Friendly
Safe for family & pets
100% Guarantee
Pests return, so do we
Ready to get started?
Choose how you'd like to connect with us.
Available Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 9am-2pm