Their body temperatures and functions depend on the outside temperature. A fire ant worker lives an average of 1 to 6 months, depending on its size. Larger workers live longer than smaller ones. Unmated winged males and females may be found in colonies during warmer months. Fire ant winged reproductive females and males fly and mate, and new colonies are established during warmer months.
Males die soon after mating.
Those queens that survive dig chambers into which a few eggs are laid. These first eggs hatch and mature into workers that care for the queen and the next broods of workers. Visible mounds appear above the turf surface as the colony increases in size, usually within several weeks or months. Outdoors Several control options are available for infested non-crop areas. Control strategies may depend on such factors as the size of the site, its uses, how frequently and by how many people it is used, and the availability and expense of labor, as well as personal preferences.