When I moved to Atlanta from Maryland, I learned about fire ants, an invasive species, the hard way. Although these ants are tiny (2 to 6 mm), their stings burn like fire! Just touch their nest, and they rapidly emerge, aggressively looking for the intruder. Children who live in the South quickly learn to recognize the large mounds, usually found in open fields or along paved areas. These ants are known to be resilient and can survive cold temperatures.

Like all insects, adult ants have three body parts (head, thorax, and abdomen), six jointed legs, and antennae. They move through metamorphosis (egg, larva, pupa, and adult) during their life cycle. Ants are social insects, like bees, and live in colonies in which each member (queen, drones, and workers) has a role.

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