Fire Ants

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Fire Ants

• By Charli Crump, Rachel Risher, April Gilmore,
  Victoria Bennett, and Elise Smith

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What are red imported fire ants?
They are highly aggressive and inject a
necrotizing, alkaloid venom when they sting.
Their attacks are coordinated and dozens or even
hundreds of workers sting in unison.

• The red imported fire ant is a small reddish
  brown ant from South America. They are one of
  six known species. Their scientific name is
  Solenopsis Invicta.

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How did the red imported fire ants enter
Mississippi?
Red imported fire ants were first reported in the
United States in 1929.

• They were unknowingly loaded onto cargo ships
  and traveled to a port in Alabama traveling west
  into Mississippi. Through interbreeding they
  have learned to survive drought or cold.

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What do the red imported fire ants look like?
They have dark red and brown on the head and body
and have a darker abdomen.
Fire ants vary in size from 1/16 to 1/5 inches
long.
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Where do the red imported fire ants live?

• Few imported fire ants can be found in many
  different places. Most choose to build their
  mounds in sunny areas which can consist of lawns,
  pastures, and fields. Others are along
  buildings, electrical boxes, and sprinkler
  systems.

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Why are the red imported fire ants a threat?

• They damage farm equipment crops, kill small
  animals, and sting humans. They are known to be
  called the ants from hell because they feed on
  anything, plant or animal, dead or alive. They
  can be VERY dangerous.

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How do the red imported fire ants attack?

• They only attack when they feel threatened of
  hungry and dont have a food source. If anything
  disturbs their nest they will swarm. When a fire
  ant stings they start by one ant initiating the
  attack and sting in a circular motion.

• They use their mandibles to clamp on and then
  inject their stinger, which is in the abdomen.

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How do you treat a red imported fire ant sting?

• Fire ant stings can be treated in various ways.
  One way is to use an Epi-pen if a person is
  allergic. Another way is to take Benadryl and if
  someone doesnt have any of these on hand they
  need to seek medical attention if the area starts
  to worsen.

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How can you protect your family and yourself from
the red imported fire ants?

• A way you can protect your family and yourself
  from these insects would be to survey the land
  then use a pest control to kill the ants. Also,
  keep shoes and long-sleeves on when playing
  outside.

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What should you do if you are plagued with red
imported fire ants?

• If you are plagued with fire ants Do not disturb!
  Pest control and pesticides can terminate any
  infestations.

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How is a red imported fire ant infestation
treated?
There are many ways to treat an ant infestation.
One way is liquid treatment. This is when you
drench the mound with chemicals. Another way is
using an ant bait which is a combination of
insecticides and food that is attractive to ants.
If there is an ant infestation indoors remove
all food that will attract insects to an
appropriate area.
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• Ants have six legs. Each leg has three joints.
• The legs of the ant are very strong so they can
  run very quickly.
• An ant brain has about 250,000 brain cells.
• The average life expectancy of an ant is 45-60
  days
• Adult ants cannot chew and swallow solid food
• The ant has two eyes, each eye is made of many
  smaller eyes.

FUN FACTS!