Pest Library
Red Imported Fire Ant
Red imported fire ants are the reddish-brown stinging ants responsible for the loose dirt mounds across Gulf Coast lawns. The mound has no single entrance hole, and disturbing it brings workers to the surface within seconds to sting repeatedly, leaving small white pustules a day or two later.
Profile
- Scientific name
- Solenopsis invicta
- Identification
- Reddish-brown head and body with a darker abdomen, workers of varying sizes in the same nest, two-segmented waist and a functional stinger.
- Typical size
- Workers range from about 1/16 to 1/5 inch (1.6-5 mm) in the same colony.
- Behavior
- Highly defensive of the nest. Colonies relocate after flooding and can raft on floodwater. Some populations have multiple queens, which raises mound density.
- Habitat
- Open sunny turf, landscape edges, along sidewalks and driveways, under slabs, and occasionally in wall voids or electrical boxes.
- Diet
- Insects, seeds, sweets and greasy food waste.
- Lifecycle
- Mating flights follow warm rains; new queens establish colonies that grow to tens of thousands of workers.
- Why it matters
- Stings are painful for anyone and can be medically serious for people with sting allergies. Keep children and pets away from active mounds and seek medical advice for severe reactions.
- DIY considerations
- Pouring liquids on a mound usually relocates the colony a few feet away. Broadcast approaches and correct timing matter more than treating individual mounds.
- Professional considerations
- Yard programs combine mound work with broadcast treatment on a schedule tied to seasonal activity, plus exclusion where ants are entering structures or equipment.
Signs of activity
- Dome-shaped mounds of loose soil, especially after rain
- Rapid swarming when the mound is stepped on or raked
- Painful stings that develop into small white pustules
- Ants trailing into electrical boxes or irrigation controllers
Prevention
- Keep mulch and yard debris from piling against slabs and walkways
- Correct drainage so saturated soil does not push colonies toward the house
- Remove food waste and pet food from patios and pool decks
- Watch play areas, pool decks and mailboxes for new mounds after rain
Sources
Related information
Seeing red imported fire ant at your property?
Book online or request service through our secure customer portal. Tell us what you are seeing and where the property is located.