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What are red imported fire ants?
Red imported fire ants are medium sized ants that build mounds of soft soil rarely larger than 18" in diameter. The ants emerge out
aggressively when they are disturbed and sting. Their sting usually leaves a white pustule the next day. Harvester ants are much
larger and make large bare areas with a single entrance hole to the colony. Leaf cutter ants are also much larger and do not have a
distinctive built up mound, but do have many entrance holes over a very large area. Other small to medium sized ants that build small
mounds will actually run away from disturbances and aren't fire ants.
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Can I tell the difference between them and native fire ants? How large are they?
Some confusion comes from the fact that red imported fire ants come in a variety of sizes (1/16 to almost 1/4 inch long) with the
largest workers 2 or 3 times larger than the smallest. Native fire ants are less common in imported fire ant infested areas.
Solenopsis geminata is the most common native fire ant species encountered. To the unaided eye, they are almost identical to red
imported fire ants. However, geminata will have a few larger workers with large, square shaped heads. These ants specialize in
collecting and milling seeds.
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What is the difference between single-queen and multiple- queen forms of the red imported fire ant?
Single-queen: only one queen per colony or mound; slightly larger workers; members of colonies are territorial; mound densities
usually 2080 mounds per acre; fewer ants per acre.
Multiple-queen: dozens of queens per colony; smaller average worker ants; colonies are interconnected; mound densities 100 to
1,000+ per acre; more ants per acre.
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How can I tell the difference between fire ants and termites?
Although most ants are recognizable, some forms of winged ants are often confused with termites, especially during the
termite-swarming season. The front pair of wings on ants are larger than the hind pair, while the four wings of termites are
approximately the same size. Ants have "elbowed" antennae and a "thin waist," being narrow between the thorax and hind abdominal
segments. Termites have the thorax and abdomen broadly connected and their antennae are straight and hair like.
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Where are they from?
Fire ants are from South America. They entered the U.S. through Mobile, Alabama, probably in soil used for ships' ballast. They were
accidentally introduced around the 1930s and have been spreading ever since.
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We didn't used to have fire ants when I was a kid. Why do we have them now?
Red imported fire ants are very aggressive, efficient competitors. Since the 1950s, the ant has been spreading northward, westward,
and southward in Texas. They now infest the eastern two thirds of the state, and some urban area in western Texas. The bad news is
that they are probably here to stay. The good news is that with relatively little cost and effort, you can prevent most of the
problems they cause using currently available methods. Research efforts can result in even more cost-effective, environmentally sound
fire ant management systems.
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Are they still moving west and north?
Yes, south, too. With Texas' border counties infested, they are likely to spread into northern Mexico. Their northward spread depends
on temperature. Cold winters tend to push them back. Western spread is largely dependent on water. They will mostly be found in urban
areas, creek bottoms, irrigated land, etc. The entire Pacific Coast is fertile ground for infestation.
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Why do fire ants appear to sting at the same time?
Fire ants are sensitive to vibration or movement and tend to sting when the object they are on moves. The ants swarm up a person's leg
and when one ant stings that person jerks or moves. This triggers many of the other ants to sting in response. Thus, it appears they
all sting at the same time, and most do.
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Is their sting lethal?
Only to a very small portion of the population who experience severe allergic reactions.
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Are they as lethal as killer bees?
Kind of like comparing apples to oranges. They both attack en masse and can both cause fatal allergic reactions, but that's where
similarities end. Africanized bees can overwhelm and kill even healthy, non-allergic people, but encounters are rather rare. Fire ants
can't overwhelm a healthy, mobile person and even hundreds of stings are rarely fatal. But, fire ant mounds are extremely common. So
the chance of being killed by bees is higher if you come across them, but the chance of being killed by fire ants is higher only if
you are highly allergic or cannot quickly get away from them. The chances of either are very small.
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What if I have an allergic reaction?
Seek medical help immediately!
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