Introduction
Two species of fire ants are found in Florida. Most notorious is the red imported fire ant (RIFA), Solenopsis invicta Buren, followed by the much less common tropical or native fire ant, S. geminata (Fabricius).

Mounds are built of soil and vary greatly in appearance and size depending on colony size, weather and time of year. Since arriving in the U.S. the RIFA has become a major agricultural and urban pest throughout the southeastern states. They can cause both medical and environmental harm.

• When a mound is disturbed, ants emerge aggressively to bite and sting the intruder.

• When a person is stung, a pustule usually appears the next day at the site of the sting.

• Fire ant stings may produce a range of reactions from localized pain and swelling to anaphylactic shock and death.

In urban settings, fire ants may nest under patio slabs, in lawns, under edges of sidewalks, foundations, concrete driveways, and electrical boxes. After a heavy rain, the colony may move to higher ground or inside homes to take refuge from saturated soil. If nesting under patio slabs or concrete walkways, the nest cavity may cause the concrete slab to fall and damage the sidewalk.

Management
Two approaches can be taken to effectively manage imported fire ants: single mound treatments or area-wide broadcast applications.

• Baits can be used for both individual mound and broadcast applications.

• Worker ants then forage and bring the bait back to the colony to feed on.

• Do not apply bait directly on the mounds.

  • This method, while slower acting, is more effective than chemical drenching, dusting, or fumigating a mound because the workers will feed the bait to the queen and brood, thus gaining effective control of the colony.

• Insecticide drenches and dusts may not reach the queen, who may be deep in the nest, thus preventing colony elimination.

• Home remedies such as pouring boiling water or ignite flammable liquids or oil over a mound are not recommended.

  • They are generally ineffective in killing the colony and can be harmful to people and the environment.

Major Myth
Grits will be taken up by the ants and will cause them to “explode”. Not.

Past Pest of the Month

Cogon Grass
Lawn Mole		Bees and Wasps Standard Operating Procedure
Lovebug		Root Breathing Mosquitoes and Aquatic Plants
Brazilian Pepper Tree		Bed Bug
Non-biting Midge		Widow Spiders
Red Fire Ant		Caribbean Crazy Ant