Fire ants!

 

I had my second encounter with fire ants this week.  Little friggers!!!

In Tulum, while walking through some sand and plants, I got stung on my left foot by red ants.  It hurt!  Until I put my foot in the ocean.  Then I was OK until they got stupid itchy and I scratched at lot and damaged my skin. I thought it was my scratching that also made the red mark on one of my toes. I felt like a dumb dumb for scratching too much.   


Until I got stung again this week on my right foot.  I made a point of not scratching.  I didn't want to make the same mess of my skin that I had the last time.  Yeah right....

It turns out, it wasn't just the scratching that made the mess.  It was an allergic reaction, that seems to be getting worse.  This time, the whole top of my foot got swollen and some of the bites turned into  yucky red blisters. 

It took me a day to realize I needed to do something about the bites.  I started with an anti-histamine/itch cream and ice water to control the itch.  Both helped but I needed bigger guns.  So I also took oral anti-histamines. Four days later, the blisters are much better, but still healing.

Turns out, my reaction isn't unusual.  Wikipedia says....Fire ant is the common name for several species of stinging ants.  Fire ants bite only to get a grip and then sting from the abdomen to inject a toxic venom. (I think mostly for protection.  They eat sugary and dead things usually) For humans, this causes a painful sting, like being burned by fire- hence the name. Apparently, the immediate application of aloe vera or urine can reduce the sting.  I'll keep that in mind....

Pictures
1)  I'm not quite sure how they celebrate red ants in Ashburn Georgia, but I'm not gonna rush to go....
2) Before all this, I wouldn't have given much credit to a security company that uses an ant as it's logo.  But I've changed my mind.
3) An interesting looking man in the park this morning
4) The roaster at Tom's coffee shop.  And an underpaid assistant??
5)   My bicycle beside the mural at Billy's BBQ.