Fire ants live in warm, tropical climates. They require water to survive, so homes with ponds, leaky pipes, or moisture problems are more likely to be infested. They also enjoy eating. Fire ants are drawn to oily and greasy foods, insects and seeds, and dog and cat food. But did you know that fire ants are actually an invasive species in the US?
Fire Ants are an invasive species in the United States. The FDA estimates that $5 billion is spent annually in Red Imported Fire Ant infested areas on medical treatment, damage, and control.
The Fire Ant Colony
If you believe that ants are only one species, you may be mistaken because there are many different types of ants worldwide. Fire ants are members of the Solenopsis genus, which contains over 200 species worldwide. Red ants are only a small subset of this stinging ant species. The stings of the Solenopsis genus cause a burning sensation so painful that some people seek professional assistance.
Aside from fire ants, other species of ants in the Solenopsis genus can sting. Don’t be surprised because the world is made up of millions of ants that have been around since before you were born. (Source: Lake Norman Pest)
Winged Ants
Have you seen ants flying around your property and thought they were another pest? Fire ants have wings, but only the males and virgin queen ants have them. As we all know, queen fire ants lay thousands of eggs every day, but if the queen ant still has her wings, it means she is still a virgin. The virgin queen ant will fly around looking for a mate. (Source: Lake Norman Pest)
Her wings will be ripped off after mating for the first time. Male drones are another type you’ll see flying around. They also have wings to help them locate the queen ant with whom they can mate. They die after mating with the queen because their only purpose is to mate with their counterpart. If you don’t want to see flying fire ants everywhere, you should get rid of them by hiring a pest exterminator in Statesville. (Source: Lake Norman Pest)
The Queen Ant
Termites and bees both prefer to have one queen in their hive. On the other hand, fire ants can have one or more queens in their colonies. Because they are the only ones who reproduce, queen fire ants are known to increase the population of the colonies. Because of the queen’s presence, the colonies could grow to house thousands or millions of fire ants in a single property.
On the other hand, a colony is typically made up of queen ants, which can live for seven years and are larger than other ants. They only exist to reproduce, and they can lay up to 1,600 eggs per day. More eggs will be produced if there is more than one queen in a colony, and the population can double in a month. Worker ants are also present in the colony and can number in the thousands, but they have a shorter lifespan, lasting only six months. If you don’t want to increase their population, you should hire a pest exterminator in Statesville. (Source: Lake Norman Pest)
Image from Wired