Fire Ants – An Invasive Pest

If you have ever been stung by a red imported fire ant (RIFA), you most likely will not soon forget it! It is uncommon to be stung my just one fire ant just one time. If you are unlucky enough to disturb a nest, you are more likely to be attacked by several fire ants that each sting multiple times as they mobilize and then attack.

In the late 1930’s a small but extremely threatening insect invaded the United States, the Argentine fire ant. It hitched a ride from its homeland to Mobile, Alabama. For the next 80 years they have spread throughout the South, inflicting painful stings building large nests, and generally annoying human populations.

Fire Ants are small reddish ants with blackish abdomen. Workers are 1/16″ to 1/4″ long with powerful stings. Some species form large nest mounds in open ground, while others nest under boards, rocks and plants, and sometimes under buildings, especially near fire hearths. They eat everything from cereals to meat, and attack domestic animals and people, especially invalids and babies.

Thanks to Animal Pest Management Services Inc. 13655 Redwood Court, Chino, CA 91710 for this interesting information. You can learn more about Animal Pest and their services by visiting their website at https://animalpest.com/  or by calling them at 800-344-6567.