To correctly identify a fire ant, kids should be taught the appearance of this insect and how it is different from other kinds of ants. While fire ants may look similar to other ants, there are several differences that are noticeable. Fire ants are dark, reddish brown in color and their abdomen is darker. They range in size from 1/16 of an inch to 1/5 of an inch. Their mounds can be extremely large -- more than 15 inches in height, 15 inches across and up to 5 feet in depth.
Because they are omnivores, fire ants eat a variety of animals and plants. This list includes mice, turtles, other insects, snakes and animals that nest on the ground. They also eat fruit, grass, seedlings, plant bulbs and other vegetation. Worker fire ants eat a substantial amount of food and return to the colony where they regurgitate it to share with other ants.
The fire ant was first introduced to North America in 1929, and was done so accidentally. Native to South America, the ants first came to the United States in a boatload of dirt that docked in Alabama. Since then, the aggressive insects have spread throughout several states, including as far west as California and as far north as Maryland. They cannot live in more northerly climates because the ground is frozen too many weeks out of the year.
Fire ant eggs are laid by the colony's queen, mainly during the summer. If the eggs are fertilized, they become female queens or workers. If unfertilized, the eggs hatch into males. Eventually, the egg turns into a larva that can be carried by a worker ant. From there, the larva becomes a pupa before it hatches into an adult fire ant.
Fire ants are known for their aggression, particularly around their mound. While other ants may retreat upon human contact, fire ants will attack you if you get too close. They bite their prey with their powerful front mandibles, resulting in a painful, red welt. If a fire ant bites you, you can apply a topical cream that is sold at drug stores. Home remedies include taking an antihistamine to prevent swelling, putting aloe vera gel on the bite or applying a paste of half baking soda and half water.