Fire Ant Biology

Home > How to Kill Fire Ants > Fire Ant Biology

Ant stages
Ant developmental stages

Fire Ant Habitat

Imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta and Solenopsis richteri (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), are social insects that usually produce hills or mounds in open areas where …

What do fire ants eat?

A fire ant food “palette.”

Imported fire ants are omnivores.  They eat both plants and animals to satisfy their nutritional needs.  Their menu includes carbohydrates (sugars), lipids (fats), and protein. Worker ants cannot ingest solid food particles (greater than 2 microns, 1 micron = …

Why do fire ants build mounds?

Fire ants use mounds to regulate temperature and moisture conditions in the colony.  You may see mounds pop up in response to cooler weather or heavy rains. The mound is an above-ground nursery that provides optimal temperature and moisture …

Fire Ant Habitat and Food Sources

Imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta and Solenopsis richteri (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), are social insects that usually produce hills or mounds in open areas where the colonies reside. These fire ants build mounds in almost any type of soil, but prefer open, …