Southern Fire Ant
Solenopsis xyloni
Physical Features
Workers vary in size from 1/16 to 1/4 inch long. Mandible has 3 teeth and they also have large eyes. Body is yellowish to reddish with a mostly black abdomen. There body is covered with yellow hairs. Stinger is prevalent.
Life Cycle
Complete Metamorphosis
Queens lay a high number of eggs, over 1,000, in one day. Hatching occurs in 14-30 days with development to the adult stage being achieved in as little as 44 days. Colonies can reach up to 10,000 workers with multiple queens.
Habits
- Diet: Omnivores. Meats, greases, butter, seeds, grains, fruits, plant base, nuts.
- Activity: More active in morning and early evening.
- Preferred Climate: Warm weather.
- Defense:Stings
- Cautions: Painful stings.
- Home Invasion: Like to be near moisture in soil. Their nests are flattened with little to no mound and are typically 2-4 feet wide and shallow. They will have one to several openings in the nests. Inside a home they can be found in void, under carpets. They also will be found in wood piles.
Helpful Hints for Control
- Check firewood prior to moving indoors for ant activity.
- Repair any leaky faucets. Resist over-watering landscaping.
- Aggressive baiting program and preventative pest control plan.
Interesting Fact
Southern Fire Ants have been known to chew through plastic covering wires.
