 Fire ants (Solenopsis spp.) are so named because of their painful sting, not their bite. Like their wasp cousins, all ants have stingers. Some ants use their stingers in defense of the nest and to subdue prey. A few species, like fire ants, possess a highly potent sting that is able to drive off any animal intruder.
In the US, fire ants and harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex spp.) are notorious for their painful stings. In order to drive their stingers deep into the wound both ants bite first to anchor themselves before plunging their stingers home. A small injection of venom, which causes the burning sensation and allergic reaction, completes the sting.
In the US the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, is a highly invasive species currently distributed across the South from coastal North Carolina to east Texas [see range map below]. Local infestations have been found west to California. Possible distribution expansion could include all of central California and western Oregon.
The red imported fire ant is a small, brown ant [image] that can be difficult to distinguish from other small, brown ants, unless you get stung! They make extremely large mound nests that may reach 18" in height and they are very effective predators. In fact, even though this ant is considered to be an invasive pest, when local fire ant populations are eliminated farmers have noticed a significant increase in other crop pests.
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| In less than 10 seconds, an unwary scientist was stung over 250 times when he carelessly knelt on a collapsed fire ant mound. The sterile pustules developed to this stage in 3 days. Photo by Daniel Wojcik, ARS. |
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