Page 24 - AG 7-2011 Revised 2016

Imported Fire Ant

Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR

1.Antenna- 10 segmented, 2 seg. Club 6.Thorax- uneven, no spine Southern Fire Ant

2.Eyes- 2 compound 7.Petiole- 2 nodes 6
1 78
3.Head- mandibles with 2 teeth 8.Abdomen- darker than body
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4.Legs- 6 9.Color- yellowish to reddish
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5.Wings- on alates & swarmers 10.Other- stinger present
Drawing Courtesy of Corky’s Pest Control
Life Cycle
A queen can lay over 1,000 eggs in a 24-hour period, which hatch
in 2-4 weeks. During the warm summer months the egg to adult
process can be as little as 44 days.

1.Antenna- 10 segmented 6.Thorax- uneven with valley Actual size 1/4”

2.Eyes- 2 compound 7.Petiole- 2 nodes Imported Fire Ant

3.Head- mouthpart with teeth 8.Abdomen- darker than body 1 67

4.Legs- 6 9.Color- reddish to brown 8

5.Wings- on alates 10.Other- stinger present

Life Cycle 3
Eggs develop in 7-10 days, larvae in 6-12 days, and pupa in 9-16 days.
The egg to adult life cycle ranges from 22-38 days, a very quickly 4
developing ant! Minor workers live from one to two months, while major
workers can live up to six months. Drawing by Andrew Schaible

Actual size 1/4”

The Imported and Black Fire Ants are quite a problem in some areas. The workers are usually the
most noticed, and are 1/4th inch in size. They can be colored from reddish to mostly black. They live
inside large mounds in fields, woodlands, and open space areas. Fire ants will eat insects, seeds,
fruits, meats, vegetables, flowers, and honeydew—just about anything organic can become their food.

The colony has a prominent queen who mates and lays eggs. She alone tends the eggs and larvae of
the first generation, and then the first generation females will take over the care of later eggs, larvae,
and even the queen. Worker females build the nest, excavating large amounts of dirt which forms the
mound. Occasionally a nest will be built in a rotting log or under a rock. Fire Ants can do major dam-
age to new crops, and also are quite capable of inflicting painful stings and bites. They are very hostile
to other ants.

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