TOP ELEVEN PEST- "Southern" FIRE ANTS
We will be talking about the southern
fire ant. The red imported fire ant is not in Arizona yet (fortunately), so we’ll wait to talk
about them.
Fire ants get their name from their ability to inflict especially painful bites and stings.
Identifying:
Workers are polymorphic, meaning they come in varied sizes, from 1/16-1/14" in length. The head and thorax are yellowish
red and the thorax is black.
Habits:
Fire ants are typically ground nesting, but the southern fire ant will sometimes nest in
the wood or masonry of buildings, especially in areas near the soil or the warmth of a fireplace hearth. Outside nests are
usually found under stones or covering objects, or at the base of trees or scrubs, or in clumps of grass.
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Southern fire ants have been known to remove the insulation from phone or electrical wires, and to gnaw on clothing, especially if it is soiled. They usually feed on seeds, insects, young tree bark, honeydew and other sweets, preferring oily meats and nuts.
| Biology flattened and irregular mounds | Biology swarming occurs May through October | Biology as little as 44 days to mature |
Biology:
Typical mounds of the southern fire ant are flattened and irregular, covering 2-4 square feet. Reproductive swarms
occur
May through October in the early afternoon of warm
days. Developmental time can require as little as 44 days.
The biology
of southern fire ants has not been thoroughly studied.
Control:
These ants can be very difficult to control. A good baiting program seems to be the best long-term approach, with some use
or dusts and or liquids to control foragers in or near the house. Baits containing Avermectin seem particularly well suited
to fire ant control.>> return to TOP ELEVEN PEST
