Red Imported Fire Ant: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Tiny Builders · day 2 of 7

Five facts

1. When fire ants sense floodwater rising, they link their bodies together into a floating raft.
2. Fire ant mounds have no visible entrances. Workers dig foraging tunnels and emerge far away from the nest.
3. Fire ants were the first species found with a green-beard gene: workers favor queens that share it, even killing those that don't.
4. A mature colony can hold 500,000 to 2,000,000 ants. Workers live several months, but queens can live for years.
5. The name "fire ant" comes from the burning sensation of their sting. About 95% of the venom is made of alkaloids called solenopsins.

The quiz

1. What do fire ants build when water levels rise?

• Bridges
• Rafts (correct)
• Towers
• Boats of leaves

Sensing rising water, they link together into a floating raft.

2. Why do fire ant mounds show no visible entrances?

• Workers emerge far away through tunnels (correct)
• The entrances are sealed with wax
• They are hidden under leaves
• Workers fly in from above

Workers build foraging tunnels and emerge far away from the nest.

3. What do workers do to queens without the green-beard gene?

• They feed them extra
• They move them to a new nest
• They ignore them
• They kill them (correct)

Workers favor queens with the gene, even killing those that lack it.

4. How long can fire ant queens live?

• A few days
• A few weeks
• For years (correct)
• Only a few months

Workers live several months, but queens can live for years.

5. What is the name "fire ant" based on?

• The burning sensation of the sting (correct)
• Their red-hot colour
• Their fiery temper
• Their nests in burnt ground

The name comes from the burning sensation of the sting.

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