Fire ants are one of the most aggressive and recognizable ant species in Florida. The red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) builds large, dome-shaped mounds in open sunny areas — lawns, driveways, sidewalk edges, and the base of trees. A disturbed mound triggers an immediate, coordinated attack. Each worker can sting repeatedly, injecting venom that causes a burning sensation and, in sensitive individuals, a serious allergic reaction.
In Davenport, fire ant mounds appear most visibly after rain, when the colony moves upward to avoid flooding. A single large colony can contain 200,000 to 500,000 workers. Standard yard sprays kill surface workers but leave the queen and brood untouched — the colony rebuilds within days. Effective elimination requires reaching the queen, either through targeted bait or direct mound treatment using products that penetrate deep into the colony structure.