Alabama Woman killed by fire ants day after her mother dies “Report”

An Alabama woman was attacked and killed by fire ants a day after her own mother’s death.

Kalyn Rolan was in a small town north of Selma making funeral arrangements for her mother, who had died the day before. Rolan was talking on the phone when the fire ants started attacking her from the hay bale she was standing on.

“There’s nothing really that you can do, nothing you can say because there’s nothing that is going to bring her back,” one of Rolan’s best friends told WSFA.

The Dallas County Coroner said Rolan was bitten multiple times on her ankles and feet.

The coroner said, “One of the first things to happen in a situation like this is the airway passage closes up.”

Because of the two burials, Rolan’s family has set up a GoFundme page, in addition to a local fundraiser on Saturday. The page says 29-year-old Rolan leaves behind her two children and husband.

Family members told the Montgomery Advertiser Rolan was allergic to several things — including other insects.

Local media reports say there haven’t been any other deaths from fire ants in the past three years in Alabama.

Though not a native species in North America, the red imported fire ant has become a common nuisance throughout the southern United States, ranging from Florida to California and as far north as Oklahoma and Virginia.

The red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) was accidentally brought into the United States in the 1930s via a shipment of cargo. Initially transplanted into Alabama, they have spread and thrived throughout the southern states with the warm climate and lack of predators.

Fire ants favor warm, sunny conditions. They prefer dry fields and avoid shady areas such as woods. Typical mounds can grow up to 61 cm in diameter and 18 cm high. These colonies can contain several hundred thousand ants, including at least one queen.

When attacking, fire ants first use their mandibles to grip their prey, and then inject venom through a stinger.

Fire ant stings are painful for most humans and fatal to some: if a victim experiences a severe reaction such as sweating, nausea or excessive itching, emergency medical services should be contacted immediately. Their sting, which includes alkaloid venom, is highly irritating to humans and results in red bumps and white pustules, which can ultimately lead to scarring. The sensation of a fire ant burn has been described as “stinging” and “intense burning,” and fire ants are known to attack potential threats or prey in large numbers.

A fire ant colony may contain 100,000 to 500,000 insects, thus increasing the likelihood that multiple stings will be inflicted.

Your local pest control professional should be contacted in the event of fire ant activity. Professionals can manage lawn infestations while securing homes against indoor invasions.

Annual Fire Ant Treatment and Prevention

The most reliable method of fire ant treatment is to have your local pest control company perform an inspection and determine how to manage the fire ants in your home.

To avoid bites or stings outside the home, be cautious and observant where you step, sit or place items such as food or drinks. If you see a fire ant mound, keep an eye on the ground to watch for ant activity.

Agencies/Canadajournal