Florida Fire Ants

Fire ants, although similar in color to the Pharoah ant are much smaller, dull looking ants that range in color from golden to light brown. This species has no large-headed workers. They are slow- moving and cause painful stings that can last a long time. These tiny ants can fall on people working in infested vegetation and sting them.  Occasionally they are found inside of a home. If you find a fire ant colony in your home you can control it can using baits.  Controlling fire ants outdoors is much more difficult. The best strategy is to eliminate access to as many structures as possible. Outdoor fire ant control is currently under further study.  

Fire ants have multiple queens and they nest in exposed soil, rotten wood, hollow twigs, other plant cavities, under flower pots, and on the underside of objects on the ground. Fire ants forage on vegetation and fruit trees which is why field workers and harvesters often get bitten by fire ants.

 

Fire ants are found in the following Floria counties: Broward, Collier, Dade, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Indian River, Lake, Martin, Manatee, Marion, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Polk, Sarasota, St. Lucie, and Seminole Counties.