| Identification
Tips - Fire Ants |
 There
are many sizes of fire ants in a colony ranging from 1/8-inch to almost 3/8-inch in
length.
Color: Reddish brown. These ants are very aggressive and will readily sting humans
or animals leaving large welts that may be sore for several hours.
According to the Washington Post, Oct. 11
1999 issue, a 5 -day old baby was attacked indoors in its crib and died of fire ant
stings. A 2 year old attacked in his home suffered eye damage. Also reported was the death
of 2 elderly Mississippi nursing home patients. Fire
ant stings can kill both animals and people.
The red imported fire ant was brought into
this country some 60 years ago .These ants nest in the soil and construct large mounds
that are easily seen in lawns and pastures. A single lawn may contain a dozen or more
smaller mounds. This ant will also locate nests within landscape mulch and beneath items on
the ground, such as landscape timbers. The mounds of such colonies may be shallow and
poorly structured making them difficult to detect for the less experienced eye. Fire ants
may construct mounds next to the foundation and enter homes through weep holes or other
exterior cracks and holes. Once inside, workers forage in trails beneath the edge of
carpeting. On occasion, the ants will bring soil up into walls or beneath first floor
bathrooms and construct a nest.
These ants are rapidly invading the states
to the west of Texas and moving north through Oklahoma. They are accidentally transported
with landscape material, construction equipment and other means.
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