Fire Ants

Red imported fire ants are approximately ¼” long and have reddish brown bodies and a darker hind end. Fire ants are our only ants that have two bumps between the thorax and abdomen.

Fire ants tend to build their mounds in open, sunny areas, or next to sidewalks and driveways where soil temperatures tend to be higher. The mounds tend to be fluffy and usually show up right after a rain, or in well irrigated lawns.

Unlike many other types of ant mounds, fire ant mounds do not have any visible entry/exit holes.

In well maintained lawns, fire ant mounds stay relatively small (only a few inches high), however, in unmaintained areas they can be much larger.

During times of heat and/or drought fire ant colonies nest deeper, keeping the mounds hidden from view.