Do Fire Ants Bite Horses?

We got asked recently if fire ants bite horses. To our knowledge, fire ants bite anything they feel like biting. Though actually, the sting is what people fear, not so much the bite. 

For over 30 years, Fire Ant Specialists has made it our goal to educate people about the red imported fire ant and help alleviate their issue. We work with sister companies to cover areas invaded by these painful creatures.

But that doesn’t really answer the question, does it?

Yes. Fire ants bite horses. They sting them too.

More of the Story

Most other ants will bite and then spray acid on the wound. This is where the term “piss ant” was derived, as it refers to oak tree ants. If you live in Florida, you know what we are talking about. 

The red imported fire ant is different from its ant compadres because its sole reason for biting is to get a good grip, so it can sting you. That sting injects a toxic venom. So, a horse is experiencing a very painful simultaneous bite and sting.

If the horse is lucky, this will only develop into a surface-level, crusty, thickening of the skin. However, for others, it will turn into a pustule within 12-24 hours. And for an even smaller amount, an ant sting delivering Solenopsin (the toxic venom mentioned previously) can be fatal.

A tiny ant can kill a giant horse. Do you want to take a risk on your livestock? It’s probably cheaper to have us treat your pastures than to risk the replacement of your cattle, horses, etc.

Is it Really That Serious?

Yeah, it kind of is. Especially, when you think about the speed with which ant colonies spread and grow. A queen can lay so many eggs, your head would spin (up to 1,000 a day). If you have never done a deep dive into the lives of ants, you are truly missing out.

Colonies can hold hundreds of thousands of ants. How many colonies do you think can exist in one large pasture? The answer depends on whether it’s a single- or multi-queen colony. Single queen colonies will not coexist with other colonies at all. Ants at war are even more dangerous to your horses. They are just looking for a reason to sting something.

Fire Ant Specialists wants you to rest at ease knowing that your horses are walking safely through their pastures. With the assistance of our sister companies, we can treat very large areas. 

Our treatment targets the queen by enticing her workers to bring the bait straight to her. This sterilizes her. No queen means no more new workers. Over time they all pass away.

Ants’ lives aren’t long-lasting anyway. This is why we are able to give you a timeframe in which to expect results. If for some reason we do not meet our timeframe, we will come back and spot-treat your trouble areas, free of charge.

Yes, fire ants do bite horses and it can be a really bad situation. So, give us a call at 352-291-2687, or click here, to schedule a treatment or receive a free estimate. Let’s protect your horses together.