The ants also may be found around trees or stumps, under pavement and buildings and occasionally indoor. Electrical equipment and utility houses may serve as fire ant nest sites, sometimes resulting in short circuits. New colonies do not make conspicuous mounds for several months. Once a colony is established, a single queen can lay more than 2,000 eggs per day. The red imported fire ant is notorious for their painful sting that results in a pustule and intense itching which can persist for 10 days.
Some people are allergic to the sting and, in some cases, fire ant stings can result in death.
Fire ant control is expensive. The positions are necessary to implement a statewide strategy to maintain Arizona. Review all commercial loads originating from infested areas in California through Arizona. Continue same scrutiny at eastern ports for shipments from red imported fire ant areas. Establish destination inspections for nursery material and sod from red fire ant areas.