Fire ants can relocate quickly to other areas, seemingly building new kingdoms overnight! However, this reaction to disruption also extends to the underground tunnels. Also, mounds may not always appear-there could be a thriving colony where there’s no mound, too.Īnother factor to bear in mind is that fire ants move quickly and react very quickly to any disturbance, raining fiery, venomous stings on any person or animal that is the cause behind the disruption. You should bear in mind, as mentioned above, that by the time the mounds appear, the ants have already been at it. It always helps to know your opponent’s moves-makes it that much easier to defeat said opponent! To put it into perspective, a single colony, spread over an acre, could comprise 500,000 ants and hundreds of mounds! Things also get more problematic when you realize that the mounds are not the first indication of a fire ant colony-by the time the mound is visible, the ants have already been there and multiplying for months.įire ants are also known to be attracted to electricity, capable of damaging transformers, heat pumps and air conditioners. It doesn’t take too long for the mounds to multiply with available space, which is why it’s always advisable to cut off infestations as early as possible. They build huge mounds of loose soil and will aggressively defend their territory, typically 18 inches highest above ground.ĭon’t let the size of the mound fool you-these 18 inches are just the tip of the iceberg, with a buzz of activity happening underground in extensive tunnels. Like all other ants in the family, fire ants also live in colonies, with a very firmly established social hierarchy-queen (or queens), drones, worker ants, and reproductives. You should try to prevent fire ants getting established Native to South America and accidentally introduced to the States, they can range between 0.125 and 0.25 inches in length, with a reddish black or brown body. If you’re looking to get rid of a fire ant menace in your backyard (and by all means, you should!), here’s a breakdown on all things ‘fire ants’, including their behavior and how to get rid of them! A Little Bit About Fire Antsįire ants thrive in dry, warm environments, which means they’re typically found in the Western, Southern, and Southwestern United States. Found in 13 of America’s 52 states, these insects, mistakenly brought over from South America in the early 20th century, have definitely overstayed their welcome, causing a range of agricultural and medical problems with their aggressive attacking and repeated stinging.įire ants also cause disturbances in local ecosystems, destroying the nests of, well, pretty much anything they get their hands on-lizards, snakes, songbirds, rodents, toads and the like. Much as they’re a part of the ecosystem like Mother Nature intended them to be, there’s absolutely nothing harmless about fire ants.
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