Red Imported Fire Ant (Winged Alate)

Natural Habitat

Open areas such as lawns, pastures, and roadsides; nests in soil mounds.

Diet & Feeding

Omnivorous scavenger; eats seeds, sugary plant secretions, and other insects.

Behavior Patterns

Aggressive foragers that participate in 'nuptial flights' where winged males and females swarm to mate; can form large colonies.

Risks & Benefits

Known for a painful, venomous sting that causes pustules and can lead to anaphylaxis in some; considered a significant agricultural and ecological pest.

Identified on: 5/14/2026