7 replies to this topic

[William. T]

I have decided to compile a list of things that you use to treat a bit or sting by certain types of ants like Pogonomyrmex and Solenopis. Here is what I do after raiding a Solenopis mound for pupae, or anting a Formica nest.

 

                                                                                     Cures

 

0. Assess whether or not you are allergic to ant stings. You should really do this beforehand, as assessing this is critical. If you are allergic, don't go anting for ants that bite and sting.

 

1. Pluck the ants manually off the skin. Never brush them off, because they will hang on with their mandibles and will get agitated. Never slap or shake them either. 

 

2. Wash the wound are with soap and water to remove any debris.

 

3. Take rubbing alcohol and rub it on the skin to suppress the itching and histamine levels. It also kills microbes.

 

4. Rub ice on top. The swelling stops and pain seems to slow.

 

What do you use for ant bites and stings from ants? Any other home remedies? 

Edited by William. T, August 22 2015 - 10:10 AM.

[Crystals]

I take extra precautions to avoid getting stung or bit in the first place. 

I haven't been bit for over 5 years, despite raiding small Formica nests for pupae in my sandals.

 

Never raided Pogonomyrmex, so no advice there.

 

For Formica, just before the warmer part of the day, or when it is cooling off, the pupae are usually stored in the top 2-4" of soil.  Take a small shovel and scoop one scoop and back up 5 feet.  You can dump it in a wheel barrow, frisbee, or on a table.  Pick out the needed pupae and dump the workers, dirt, and excess brood back on top of the nest.

 

If you are going to irritate a larger nest (knee high or bigger), I advise rubber roots coated in flour.  They can't seem to climb powdered surfaces, but watch out for tall grass that brushes your legs.  You may need hip waders for massive nests. 

[William. T]

I take extra precautions to avoid getting stung or bit in the first place. 

I haven't been bit for over 5 years, despite raiding small Formica nests for pupae in my sandals.

 

Never raided Pogonomyrmex, so no advice there.

 

For Formica, just before the warmer part of the day, or when it is cooling off, the pupae are usually stored in the top 2-4" of soil.  Take a small shovel and scoop one scoop and back up 5 feet.  You can dump it in a wheel barrow, frisbee, or on a table.  Pick out the needed pupae and dump the workers, dirt, and excess brood back on top of the nest.

 

If you are going to irritate a larger nest (knee high or bigger), I advise rubber roots coated in flour.  They can't seem to climb powdered surfaces, but watch out for tall grass that brushes your legs.  You may need hip waders for massive nests. 

I definitely am no going to tackle a mound larger than a foot in width with thoroughly going about the area with my shears. When I was young, around 5, I received some Pogonomyrmex with my Uncle Milton's large ant farm. I was such idiot in that I manually transferred the ants to their new home to this day, I still have a mild Pogonophobia. Not this one:

 

Po·go·no·pho·bi·a

ˌpōɡənəˈfōbēə/

noun

humorous

 

1. extreme dislike of beards.

   "my pogonophobia possibly stems from my inability to grow one"

   

[C Carl]

I'll second the use of rubber boots with pants tucked in, though I coat them with talcum powder or just occasionally stamp my feet. A plastic container with a snap on lid, like those Folgers coffee containers is good for moving a portion of the colony to a safer zone further from angry workers. Once safely removed, you can spread the contents on a plastic shower curtain or the like for sorting. Lighter colored clothes show ants better than dark. Any kind of alcohol product rubbed at the site of a Solenopsis invicta sting stops the formation of the pustule the next day, at least for everyone I have spoken to.

[dermy]

I take extra precautions to avoid getting stung or bit in the first place. 

I haven't been bit for over 5 years, despite raiding small Formica nests for pupae in my sandals.

 

Never raided Pogonomyrmex, so no advice there.

 

For Formica, just before the warmer part of the day, or when it is cooling off, the pupae are usually stored in the top 2-4" of soil.  Take a small shovel and scoop one scoop and back up 5 feet.  You can dump it in a wheel barrow, frisbee, or on a table.  Pick out the needed pupae and dump the workers, dirt, and excess brood back on top of the nest.

 

If you are going to irritate a larger nest (knee high or bigger), I advise rubber roots coated in flour.  They can't seem to climb powdered surfaces, but watch out for tall grass that brushes your legs.  You may need hip waders for massive nests. 

What if I have very long hair that when I kneel down touches the ground? I wind up with ants in my hair sometimes....

[William. T]

 

I take extra precautions to avoid getting stung or bit in the first place. 

I haven't been bit for over 5 years, despite raiding small Formica nests for pupae in my sandals.

 

Never raided Pogonomyrmex, so no advice there.

 

For Formica, just before the warmer part of the day, or when it is cooling off, the pupae are usually stored in the top 2-4" of soil.  Take a small shovel and scoop one scoop and back up 5 feet.  You can dump it in a wheel barrow, frisbee, or on a table.  Pick out the needed pupae and dump the workers, dirt, and excess brood back on top of the nest.

 

If you are going to irritate a larger nest (knee high or bigger), I advise rubber roots coated in flour.  They can't seem to climb powdered surfaces, but watch out for tall grass that brushes your legs.  You may need hip waders for massive nests. 

What if I have very long hair that when I kneel down touches the ground? I wind up with ants in my hair sometimes....

 

Maybe tie it into a bun?

 

I'll second the use of rubber boots with pants tucked in, though I coat them with talcum powder or just occasionally stamp my feet. A plastic container with a snap on lid, like those Folgers coffee containers is good for moving a portion of the colony to a safer zone further from angry workers. Once safely removed, you can spread the contents on a plastic shower curtain or the like for sorting. Lighter colored clothes show ants better than dark. Any kind of alcohol product rubbed at the site of a Solenopsis invicta sting stops the formation of the pustule the next day, at least for everyone I have spoken to.

I read that bees are provoked most by beekeepers wearing natural colors. That's why you never see a green beekeeping suit. Maybe it's the same with ants.

[Socalfireants]

Can I ask why you guys are raiding nests for pupae? No queens?

[LC3]

For a method known as brood boosting, basically introducing pupae from the wild nest into a captive one (Preferably of the same species, if not genus of course) to boost the population. People gather pupae and not other brood because pupae are on the last stage of development to becoming a worker and don't need a lot of maintenance. 

Edited by LC3, April 11 2016 - 8:53 PM.