Eradicating fire ants is difficult and not really practical in many cases. Although fire ant stings are not fatal for most people, they are painful.
At the same time, increased residential and commercial development contribute to their spread in infested sod, nursery stock, soil, wheat straw and other materials. The red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, continues to spread across North Carolina due in part to favorable climate conditions that aid its natural spread.
Introduction and Distribution of Fire Ants Skip to Introduction and Distribution of Fire Ants