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RESOURCES: ANTS Fire Ants 
These ants get their common name from their ability to inflict especially painful bites and stings. The two most import species are the southern fire ant (pictured, below, right) and the red imported fire ant (pictured, left). The southern fire ant is a native species and ranges from California to southern South Carolina to northern Florida. The red imported fire ant is from central Brazil and is found in the southeastern United States, from Virginia through Texas. 
Workers are about 1/16" to 1/4" long; queens average 1/4" long. They will readily sting. For the red imported fire ant, single-queen mounds usually number 30 to 100 per acre with typically 80,000 but up to 250,000 individuals per colony. Typical mounds are rounded, being up to 18" high and 24+" in diameter, each with several tunnels just under the soil surface extending out several feet. A queen in a large colony is capable of producing her own weight in eggs each day or about 1,500 or more. Typical mounds of the southern fire ant are flattened and irregular, covering 2-4 square feet. Fire ants are typically ground-nesting ants. However, the southern fire ant will sometimes nest in the wood or masonry of buildings, especially in areas near the soil or warmth such as fireplace hearths. Outside nests are usually situated under stones or other covering objects, or in the soil at the base of a tree or shrub, or in clumps of grass. The red imported fire ant typically nests outside. Each colony has its own territory, and there is usually no movement between colonies. However, they will sometimes nest in areas of exposed soil within buildings such as bath traps. Fire ants prefer food with a high protein content but will feed on almost anything, plant or animal. Carpenter Ants 
These ants get their name from their habit of hollowing out galleries in pieces of wood for nesting purposed. This nesting habit can result in structural damage. Carpenter ants are found throughout the United States. Workers vary greatly in size, from 1/8" to 1/2"; queens are about 1/2" to 5/8" long. Colors include black, combinations of red and black, or completely red or brown. The workers are capable of emitting a strong formic acid odor. Although carpenter ants do not sting, their bites can be quite painful, especially when they inject formic acid into the wound. The only external indication of infestations the appearance of small openings or windows on the surface of the wood. The workers expel debris through these, which consists of sawdust-like shavings, fragments of insulation, and insect body parts. They prefer to attack wood softened by fungus and are often associated with moisture problems. Carpenter ants feed primarily on insect honeydew, plant and fruit juices, insects, and inside, on sweets, eggs, meats, cakes, and grease. Field Ants 
Their name probably comes from their abundance outdoors. This is the largest genus of ants in America north of Mexico. Some species are commonly called thatching ants because of their habit of constructing a mount or thatch of plant material, often grass. They are found throughout the United States. Workers vary in size, from 1/8" to 3/8". Colors include brown, black, reddish or a combination of these colors. They do not sting, but will bite and spray formic acid into the wound if provoked. Field and thatching ants feed primarily on honeydew from aphids, mealybugs, scale insects. They can cause problems near structures, building a mound of plant materials, including grass, twigs, pine needles. Such nests are often located around small trees, shrubs, or rocks. Other species build their nests in cracks of masonry or sidewalks, foundation walls, and at the base of trees. Termites | Fleas | Ticks | Yellowjackets, Wasps | Rodents Return to Bug Library We
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