Fire Ants
What do Fire Ants Look Like?
Fire ant colonies contain workers of different sizes ranging from 1/8-inch to 1/4-inch in length. They are generally uniform in color and are dark brown to red. In South Florida, fire ants are active all year long and swarm several times a year between spring and fall. South Florida makes the perfect habitat, as they are attracted to warm, humid environments with annual rainfall of 10 inches or more. They eat fruit, sugar, syrups, grease, meat, other lipids, and other insects.
Signs of a Fire Ant Infestation
To spot a fire ant infestation, you’ll want to look first for the recognizable dome-shaped mound they create in the ground. Second, you’ll want to look for the protective behavior of worker ants that pour out of disturbed mounds to attack and string intruders.
Fire ants can pose a significant threat to people, pets, and other animals that unknowingly disturb their mounds and are quickly covered with stinging ants. Their venom causes allergic reactions that sometimes result in serious illness or death.
