🔄 Life Cycle
🦋Alate
→🥚Egg
→🐛Larva
→🐜Worker
🦋
Alate
Mated Queen Founds Colony
A mated queen lands, sheds wings, and begins nest founding alone. She raises the first workers using stored nutrients from her flight muscles — no food for 30-90 days.
🥚
Egg
Queen Lays 800 Eggs Daily at Peak
A mature fire ant queen lays up to 800 eggs per day. Polygyne (multiple-queen) colonies can have 50+ queens, dramatically accelerating growth.
🐛
Larva
4 Larval Instars in 6-10 Days
Larvae develop through 4 instars in 6-10 days. Workers feed larvae regurgitated food. Large last-instar larvae are fed whole insects.
🐜
Worker
Polymorphic Workers — Multiple Sizes
Fire ant workers range from 1.5mm (minor workers) to 6mm (major/soldier workers). More workers = more foraging = faster colony expansion. Colony reaches swarming size in 1-2 years.
🔬 Key Biology Facts
📊Colony size: Mature monogyne (single queen): 100,000-500,000 workers. Polygyne (multiple queens): can exceed 500,000; less territorial; higher densities.
🌡️Temperature activity: Most active at 65-90°F soil temperature. Limit activity below 50°F. During heat extremes (>95°F), move deeper in mound.
🎯Two-step method: Step 1: Broadcast bait (spinosad, hydramethylnon) over entire yard. Workers carry it to all colonies. Step 2: Individual mound treatments 2 weeks later.
📅 Seasonal Activity
Fire ants are active year-round in the South. Spring swarms after warm rains establish new colonies. Most aggressive mound-building in spring and fall; less active in summer heat and winter cold.
⏰ Treatment Timing
Two-step method (Texas A&M): broadcast bait in fall or spring when soil is 65-80°F, followed by individual mound treatment 2 weeks later. Bait is most effective when workers are actively foraging — morning or evening applications.
✅ Target the most vulnerable life stage.