I went out front to clear out some fern which was trying to take over our holly. Wore knee socks, long pants, long sleeved shirt and gloves AND had sprayed myself with bug spray. I did not work more that 15 minutes as this is Central Florida and it is still hot and humid. Despite my preventive measures, I have about thirty fire ant bites on my back, arms, neck, ears and front. I am allergic. So took my allergy pills and am headed to bed. There goes the tote bag I hope to finish today.

oh no, take care of yourself do you need to get to ER

IT's amazing how they always seem to find a way! Hope you feel better after your nap.

Poor you. I hope you are feeling better. Those things hurt so bad. With it so dry here they are not making mounds and you can be standing watering and be covered in no time. Glad you had your pills handy.

hope you feel better soon.

Hope you feel better.

Feel better!

Those are terrible! I am so sorry you were stung. I hope you feel better soon.

Put ammonia on them when they first bite helps the pain and the blisters

There seem to be a lot of different things that kill ants. Inside the house a year or so ago I noticed a lot of ants eating on the dry cat food, so dropped a few white mints around it and all the ants left, haven't seen them since. Tried it on the outdoor ants and they swarmed over the mints, probably a different breed. So had to go to the old faithful sugar and Boric Acid mix for them. Some ants are so strong they use that for flavoring, so had to use some DH got years ago at the drugstore that must have arsenic in it, it kills everything.

Now I'm putting Diatomaceous Earth around again, it usually clears out most critters that chew on my plants. I mix it with water and spray it on everything, it drys and leaves a white powdery look, but the critters leave or die. Not many ants after that for quite a while.

Feel Better! When I lived in TX we had a HUGE fire ant problem! I remember one night I was laying in bed and I woke up thinking....geez why am I so itchy? I looked in the covers and there were literally hundreds upon hundreds of fire ants in my bed! Our house was brand new, never been lived in, and apparently we disturbed some major ant hills. My bed was pushed up against the wall which had an electrical socket in it and that's how they were getting in.....just pouring in around the socket....I had so many bites it was ridiculous. I feel your pain!!

Thanks for all you kind wishes, suggestions and sharing. After taking my allergy meds, I went to bed for twelve hours. Right now only on cluster of bites is bothering me, but that will change.
The thing about the fire ants is that they seem to be the only ants that bites for pleasure. They get a hold of someone and then twist the bite. They tend not to be very clean,either.
I think I would have a heart attack if I woke with them all over the bed. They are so vicious.
Thanks again, all of you.

Sorry you were bitten so badly. Hope you start feeling better soon.

I can't stand fire-ants. I pretty much have a "Kill on Sight" mentality when I spot a mound. I will boil water & pour it on the mound.

That is the frustrating thing. I saw absolutely no evidence of them being around.

I hate fire ants. I keep a bottle of the Ortho Fire Ant killer handy in the summer. I have to sprinkle it every so often to remind them my yard is not friendly to their kind.

I have scars on my feet from fire ant bites. Glad your feeling better.