Fire Ant
Solenopsis invicta
Color: Reddish-brown body with darker brown or black abdomen.
Size: 2 – 8 mm
Shape: Oval Head, Smooth Body, Two Knot Abdomen
Nutrition: Protein, Sugars, Seeds and Plants
Habitat: Southern USA, Australia, China, Caribbean and South America
General Behavior
They build large mounds that can reach up to 46 cm.
Their colonies are very large, up to 250,000 workers.
They become aggressive and bite when their nests are disturbed.
Their activity increases in the warmer months.
Threats
Their bites can cause pain and itching and may cause an allergic reaction.
They damage crops and livestock.
They can damage electrical equipment.
They kill or displace native ants, thus damaging the ecosystem.