However, an older study of fire ant venom identifies at least 46 proteins and suggests the venom contains poison that affects the nervous system.
#BLACK AND RED ANTS SKIN#
In most people, stings produce minor skin irritation. A single worker ant will sting multiple times while attempting to defend its mound. Unlike many other species of stinging and biting insects, ants can sting multiple times. Most people are stung on their legs and feet after stepping on a mound. Ants typically continue attacking until their victims leave the mound. Stings are common among gardeners, playing children, and pets. These ants are almost identical to their red cousins in size and shape but are black or dark brown rather than reddish-brown.īoth species aggressively defend their mounds, stinging intruders in large groups. Theirs tend to be much larger than red fire ant mounds, often measuring several feet tall. Black fire ants are only found in a few states in the Gulf Coast and southeast, including Texas, Mississippi, and Alabama.īlack fire ants also build mounds. Solenopsis richteriĪlso a native of South America, Solenopsis richteri is commonly known as the black imported fire ant.
These ants use their venom to stun their prey, allowing large groups of fire ants to overcome much bigger animals quickly, such as box turtles. They eat animals and a wide array of fruits and vegetables. These mounds are often found in grass or lawns, garden beds, driveways, and other areas with ready access to food. Red fire ants build mounds around 18 inches wide. Less than half an inch long and red to brown in color, the species is commonly known as the red imported fire ant. Two imported species that cause problems in the United States are: Solenopsis invictaĪ native of South America, Solenopsis invicta has colonized at least 13 states in the U.S.
The term fire ant refers to several species of stinging ants.
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