Fire Department

560 - Ants, Bees and Ticks

Three small pests which can cause health problems are the imported red fire ant, the Africanized honey bee and a tick which causes Lyme disease. For your health and safety, the Santa Monica Fire Department offers the following tips for identifying these creatures and preventing contact with them that can result in injury or illness.

Africanized Honey Bees, commonly called "Killer Bees," are virtually identical to the common European honey bee. It is only the behavior of the Africanized bee that is different and the key to identification. They like hollow tree stumps anywhere and eaves of houses in urban environments. They are agitated by vibrations such as those lawn mowers and will attack aggressively in a swarm if provoked. They will also follow the perceived enemy a long distance.

If you see a swarm of bees, do not disturb it or attempt to poison or spray it. Call Animal Control (numbers to follow) or the Los Angeles County West Vector Control to get assistance with a hive. If you witness someone being attacked, call 9-1-1 . To prevent the bees from nesting in or around your home, remove tree stumps and fill in areas under building eaves.

Red Imported Fire Ant stings, in addition to being very painful, can be life-threatening to certain individuals. It is not easy for the untrained eye to distinguish different kinds of ants, but one clue to fire ants is their behavior when their mound is disturbed. They are more aggressive and will crawl up to attack someone or something touching the mound. Native ants tend to retreat underground.

To control red fire ants, insecticides and poison baits may be used, but care should be taken to prevent contact with family members and pets. Safer control measures include saturating cotton balls in boric acid combined with sugar water. Place the cotton balls in an open jar on its side near the mound and reapply every 2 weeks or after rain. Even plain hot water can be used. Carefully pour hot water directly into the nest. The best time to do this is about 10 a.m. on a sunny day after a cool night. At that time the queen and workers move upward in the mound to get warm. Killing the queen destroys the colony.

To keep yourself and your family safe, wear shoes outdoors and stay away from known ant colonies. Pets can be victims as well, so keep an eye on Fido and Fluffy, too. If a person is being stung by many bees or ants or is showing a serious reaction to stings, particularly difficulty in breathing, call 9-1-1 for emergency help. For help in managing a bee swarm in Santa Monica, call Animal Control at (310) 458-8594.

Ticks, primarily the "Deer Tick" in California, have been found to carry a bacterium which causes Lyme disease. Although Lyme disease is treatable, it can cause a rash, flu-like symptoms and occasionally, serious complications including arthritis and nervous disorders. Ticks are found in areas with tall grass, bushes or brush. Avoid such areas or wear protective clothing. Check for and remove ticks promptly after being outdoors. Special care must be used to remove and preserve a tick found on a person or a pet. If you may have been bitten by a tick or if redness or a rash appears around a bite, medical attention should be sought. Tick control products are available for pets.

For more detailed information on bees, ants and ticks, call the Los Angeles County West Vector Control District at (310) 915-7370.