Fire Ants: Basic Biology, Habitat, History

Life cycles.
During the reproductive flights of ants, when winged males and female ants mate. After sperm is transferred to the female, the male soon dies. Females land, locates a suitable nesting sites, the female looses her wings and begins laying eggs. The first brood of larvae are fed and cared for by the queen, and develop into sterile female worker ants. Thereafter, her sole role is to lay eggs. Worker ants care for the queen and brood (eggs, larvae and pupae), construct and maintain the nest, defend the colony and forage for food.
Colony Formation of the red imported fire ant. …