What are fire ants
— Fire ants are aggressive, venomous insects that have become a serious problem in many areas of the United States and around the world. The ants range in size; queens are often 3/4 inch long while minor workers are approximately 1/8 inch (show figure 2). The ants build dome-shaped nests (mounds) of soil that are 2.5 to 3 feet across. These tend to be flatter when built in sand. The queens are underground, protected by many workers, and continuously lay eggs to produce new ants. During dry or cold conditions, ant colonies move deeper into the mound or under paved areas and even into buildings. Colonies contain 100,000 to 500,000 worker ants. The ants have pinching mandibles on the head and a sharp stinger connected to a large venom sac on the rear of the body. When attacking predators or disturbed by an object, the ant grasps the object with the mandibles, quickly inserts the stinger, and injects venom. Once attached to the skin, fire ants continue to sting an average of three times be
