Origin Of Fire Ants

The fire ant, Solenopsis geminata, is native to South America. It got its name because of its painful bite, which is similar to the sting of a bee. The ants are called fire ants because they can spray formic acid. There are over 280 species of ants that live in the old growth coastal forests of South America and these particular ant colonies were abundant there. They invaded the United States in 1918 by hitching rides on ships coming from Brazil. Fire ants are one of the most annoying pests that can become an issue in your garden. But what are fire ants exactly? Where do they come from? There are a lot of questions that surround these tiny, yet deadly creatures.

Origin Of Fire Ants

The Origin Of Fire Ants

Fire ants are native to South America and were discovered in the United States in 1876. They have spread all over the world, with the exception of Australia and Antarctica. Fire ants are named for their painful sting that can be felt for hours after being stung. Their name comes from their ability to create heat when they bite you, causing the puncture wound to feel like it’s on fire.

Fire ants can cause serious damage to plants and crops by eating them or cutting off their water supply by forming a living mat around them. They also are known for attacking humans and animals who get too close to their nests, even when not provoked. They will bite anything that moves or smells like food (including humans) which causes them to become more aggressive than most other insects.

Fire ants live in mounds made from soil and their own bodies called “bait balls.” These mounds can grow up to 15 feet tall and contain hundreds of thousands of ants at any given time! The queen lays around 1,000 eggs per day! She lives up to 20 years old and has multiple mates so she can keep producing offspring year after year without having an heir take over as she gets older herself.

The origin of fire ants is a mystery that has been debated for decades. Some people believe that they originated in Africa and were brought to the Americas by the slaves who were taken from Africa to America during the slave trade. Others believe that they are native to the Americas, and have always been here.

The truth may never be known for certain, but what we do know for sure is that these insects have spread all over the world, including Europe and Asia. They can now be found in every state in America except Hawaii (where they are being studied as pests).

List of Origin Of Fire Ants