They come out in spring, along with the first potato shoots. They mate, lay eggs and die. Four to nine days later, small reddish larvae hatch and attack potato leaves. Two to three weeks later they move into the soil, turn into yellow pupae. About a week later adults emerge and lay eggs for a second generation.
Fire ants are unaffected by winter weather.
When temperatures warm in the spring, they move back toward the soil surface and increase their foraging activities.