Fire Ant Facts

---

 The red imported fire ant (RIFA) is native to Brazil. It was accidentally brought into the United States near Mobile, Alabama, about 1940. 

 While most colonies range in the tens of thousands, if left untreated, colonies have been known to amass more than 200,000 ants in a single colony.  Single queen colonies may have 40-150 mounds and up to 7 million ants per acre. In South Texas, there could be more than 1600 mounds in multiple queen colonies and up to 40 million ants per acre! 

 You might have thought that the giant dirt mound is where they live, but actually, fire ants utilize underground tunnels as well. These allow them to transport food, build nurseries for the young, and generally move about undetected and undisturbed. These tunnels can extend as long as 30 feet long and 10 feet deep. That’s why many DIY methods of controlling fire ants – like pouring boiling water in the opening of the mound – don’t really work. It might only kill 60% of the ants, giving them plenty of members with which to repopulate. And it’s because of these tunnels. You would only be killing the worker ants nearest the top. 

 They’ve been known to invade beehives, kill all the bees, and ransack the place for their own benefit. They also will attack anything they remotely perceive as a threat to their colony. Hundreds of them swarm out of the mound and sting within seconds. That’s why it’s so important to call Fire Ant Professionals instead of dealing with these terrorists yourself. While most people have mild to moderate irritation from the ant stings, some people and animals may experience a severe reaction that can be fatal.

 The diet of the fire ant is just one of the many reasons these insects are great survivors. They eat everything! Unlike other ant species, which subsist only on plant life, fire ants will devour plants, insects, animals, and even electrical equipment.  In addition to harming your family and pets, they can eat through power lines, wreak havoc with lights, junction boxes, and HVAC equipment, and damage machinery, irrigation, and transformer boxes.

 In heavy rain, they will go to higher ground. And if there is no higher ground, they can cling together and form a giant floating “raft” to transport larvae out of a flooded nest to safety. 

Believe it or not, the queen of a fire ant colony can live as long as seven years! Even more astonishing: she can lay up to 1,600 eggs per day! These prolific breeders never leave the nest once they develop into the breeding queen. It can take about a month for a fire ant mound to really develop on your property. That’s why it is so crucial not to hesitate to call us if you find fire ants on your property. There may not be a visible mound yet, but there will be one soon. And if you do see a mound in your lawn, this means you’ve already got a full-blown infestation. Some people think that the mound is the canary in the mine, but actually, by the time the mound is established, it’s really established. In fact, seeing a few lone fire ants without a visible mound is a sure fire sign to give us a call!