Posted on 08/05/2015 8:19:57 AM PDT by w1n1
As any law enforcement officer knows enemies come in all shapes and sizes. To Florida law enforcement officers one such enemy is the fire ant. Small pesky critter whose bite stings ferociously.
While conducting a traffic stop on a busy two-lane road I had asked the driver for their license and registration and then returned to my vehicle to check their credentials. This is when I felt the sudden yet all-too-familiar stings on my ankle and leg. When I looked down I noticed that my foot was entirely engulfed in fire ants.
The roadway where I conducted this traffic stop is very narrow and I had to be careful entering or exiting my vehicle to ensure not stepping into oncoming traffic. Hastily, I kicked off my boot but continued to get stung inside my uniform pants. I pulled off my sock because it too was covered in fire ants. I carefully held my boot and sock out of the car window, and shook them violently to get rid of the ants. In doing so the sock flew out of my hand into the oncoming traffic which launched it about 50 feet passed the vehicle I had pulled over.
This was right about the time my 911 dispatch advised that...... Read the rest of the story here.
Yes, used some this Spring in NC. Worked great.
I grew up in S. Fla. We had several varieties of 'red ants'.
One was a small red ant, about 1/16" long. Very painful swarming bites.
A couple were larger, around 1/8". Very painful also.
Not true fire ants. Hard to imagine fire ants being worse
BTW, we also had a long (3/8") thin black ant, very fast, lived single in trees. Run, stop, run, stop. Really really painful. Thankfully uncommon.
"And I, for one, welcome our new insect overlords."
Hahahahah...ALWAYS makes me laugh!
I have mostly the small fire ants, but there are also some fire ants in this area that are about twice the size of the little ones and those big ones deliver bites like a yellowjacket sting.
I had one fly down my collar once also.
After that I kept a small bottle of meat tenderizer in the glove compartment.
I swell up badly. Got whacked 3 times on my upper lip and nose once by yellow jackets. Looked like I’d gone a round w/ Mike Tyson. awful.
DDT was found to be the most effective pesticide for use on red imported fire ants. We can thank the propaganda and lies originating from Rachel Carlson's book, Silent Spring for the continued prevalence of this invasive pest. For her efforts she may be featured on the next $20 bill after they ditch Andrew Jackson.
Got your Faith strengthened also huh?
I know your story bolstered mine.
God may not always give us the answer we want, but He always answers!
LOL :)
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No thanks. Hate blog pimps.
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