MCRD/ERR PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- Mosquitoes, ants and dreaded sand fleas have one thing in common, they bite. That is why Depot Pest Control and preventative medicine at the Depot’s Branch Medical Clinic recommend being cautious and prepared to combat these pests.The Depot is host to many varieties of insects, some of which can be very annoying, and in some cases, dangerous.The sand flea, mosquito and the red imported fire ant all live in much of the same areas where Marines, sailors and their families live, train and work.One reason human beings are affected by these pests is that mosquitoes and sand fleas are attracted to the carbon dioxide that humans exhale. Ants for the most part are only bothersome when they are agitated. This is where caution comes in to play. Petty Officer 3rd Class Delle Brown, preventative medicine technician, suggests when personnel are training, they should check the ground for ants before doing any exercise. Also, ensure that children are not playing in areas where ants are prevalent.Depot personnel should wear long sleeves and pants when possible to cover skin that insects such as mosquitoes and sand fleas can bite. Using insect repellents containing DEET can also offer protection against flying insects. “Another way to control mosquitoes is to get rid of anything that may contain standing water,” said Brown, encouraging people to look around their houses and work places.According to www.epa.gov, eliminating standing water in rain gutters, old tires, buckets, plastic covers, toys or any other container where mosquitoes can breed helps reduce mosquito populations. Empty and change the water in bird baths, fountains, wading pools, rain barrels and potted plant trays at least once a week to destroy potential mosquito habitats.“Mosquitoes are a huge thing for us,” said Bradley Trader, a Depot pest controller. “We are doing quite a bit on that, including residual spraying. We also treat standing water around the base.”The Depot has conducted some residual testing and it worked well, Trader said.“We stopped the study at four weeks and it was still effective,” he said. “The residual spraying will help [control] sand fleas as well.”The red imported fire ant is yet another pest that thrives on the Depot. This aggressive insect can be found all over the Parris Island’s grounds, and can be dangerous if the victim has an allergic reaction to the bite.“With ants, there is nothing that you can do except watch out for them. You can’t use repellents,” said Brown.According to www.beaufortusa.com/fireants.htm, these ants will attack anything, no matter what its size, if their mounds or feeding areas are disturbed. The attacks are carried out by many ants, sometimes numbering in the hundreds or more.According to www.ipmworld.umn.edu/chapters/lockley.htm, by 1953, the ants had invaded 102 counties in 10 states. Today, the species has spread throughout the southeastern United States and Puerto Rico.A tell-tale sign of red ants is the dirt mounds that cover and protect their colony. The mounds are used for several purposes, such as acting as a passive solar collector to supply warmth to the colony during the cold winter months or to raise the colony above the water table in areas of saturated ground.Most people buy the name brand chemical treatments, and then they say, “Well it only moved them,” said Trader, who is in a constant battle to control the number of ants on the Depot. “Continue going after them.” Do not slack on the treatments because they will tunnel and move locations. Being diligent with the treatments will ultimately be a lot more successful, Trader added.“This year we are going to be doing mound treating and broadcast baiting,” he said, referring to treatments for controlling ant populations. “Hopefully, we will get better control of them. [The goal is to] keep the number down so that people aren’t getting hurt.”Preventative maintenance personnel suggest that victims of ant bites should wash the site and leave it alone. If the symptoms get worse, seek medical attention for further care.