Examining 11 Common Myths About Fire Ants: #4 Will Startle You!

10. Fire Ants Cannot Survive Flooding

Although a common belief holds that floods will destroy fire ant colonies, these tough insects have evolved amazing survival techniques for damp environments. By connecting their bodies, fire ant colonies can create live rafts that float for long distances until they reach dry ground during floods. Protecting queens and larvae while hunting for new habitat, these rafts can last many weeks. The capacity of the colony to rapidly rebuild their nests following flooding usually leads to higher fire ant activity in once flooded regions. This adaptation shows their remarkable survival skills and helps to explain why flooding occurrences can cause rising fire ant problems in the impacted areas.