Where There is One There are Many!

There are many species of fire ants.  They are aggressive and downright mean-spirited.  They bite when they feel threatened, and their survival instinct is unsurpassed.  You know you have experienced a fire ant bite as you will experience an almost instantaneous sting. Fire ants like to stick together, and where you find one there are often many.

Found in open fields and backyards, you will often see their mounds or colonies peeking out from piles of dirt.  They like to crawl underneath things.  Be careful if you move a pile of wood or bricks.  Carefully examine the area for them and other insects.

Fire ants are early risers and can be found out and about in the early morning hours.  Hunting and gathering is their primary morning mission as they bring food back to the colony.  Insects are some favorite morsels, and they tend to eat an immense deal of food.  Do not be surprised seeing a single ant hauling back a cricket or other insect to the mound.  Ants will also eat plants and grass but do not prefer them.  The number of fire ants in the colony will continue to multiply as long as there is a steady supply of food nearby.

Within colonies, there are queen ants.  The queens reproduce only if the colonies’ needs are met.  Nature has built-in survival mechanism and is evident in most species of ants.

There is only one queen ant per colony.  Normally she lives to be about five years old.  As soon as she dies, she is immediately replaced.  The number of eggs that a typical queen lays daily varies from a few hundred to over a thousand.

Male ants have an extremely limited role.  Their job is to mate with the queen.  Once they do mate with the queen, they move on to another colony to continue the process of reproduction.

Another interesting fact about fire ants is worker ants.  Worker ants are all females.  Their job is to take care of and feed the colony. They are unable to reproduce, although they do help care for the young ants.  They also gather food for all to eat.

Fire ants can be a real pain, but they are also extremely fascinating creatures. Next time you see a fire ant; remember that where there is one ant there are many nearby.

About the Author:  Brett Combs is a staff writer for www.shermantx.info the leading online resource for local information for the Sherman, TX and the Texoma area.

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