Mating and Reproduction

Winged males and females fly hundreds of feet up from the ground and then mate in flight throughout the year, but most common in spring (April through June). Mating flights occur most often when the temperatures are between 70 and 95 degrees F., when there is low wind and high humidity, and usually within 24 hours of a rain. Males die soon after mating. Once mated, the female lands, breaks off her wings, and searches for a place to establish her new colony, of which she is now queen. Many newly-mated fire ant queens are eaten by predators such as spiders, lizards, dragonflies, other ants, and ground beetles. Those queens that survive dig small chambers in the soil, where they lay about 25 eggs. A fire ant queen can live for 7 years and produce as many as 1,000 eggs per day. Developmental stages of fire ants are eggs, larvae, and pupae (collectively referred to as brood). Eggs are spherical and creamy white. Larvae are legless, cream-colored and grub-like, with distinct head capsules. Pupae resemble worker ants and are initially creamy white, turning darker before adult ants emerge. The adult worker ants normally live about 60 to 90 days and live in colony with its queen. In the summer, worker ants live about 35 days. However, in the cooler parts of the year, workers can live for months.