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Description: Red imported fire ants produce hills or mounds in open areas where the colonies reside. Worker ants range from 1/16 to 3/16 inch in length and are dark brown. Queen ants are larger (3/8 inch) and shed wings after mating. There are 3 other species of fire ants that are native in Texas (tropical fire ant, southern fire ant, and desert fire ant). Damage: Sterile female fire ant workers first bite, and while holding on to the skin with their jaws, inject venom with stingers at the end of their abdomens. Fire ants also damage crops such as sunflowers and others by feeding on seeds, seedlings and developing fruit. Strict laws govern the movement of plants between states with and without the red imported fire ants.
Life cycle:
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