How fire ants got to Texas and how to get rid of them

Key Points:

• In Austin, fire ants remain a common nuisance, with painful stings that can cause long-lasting physical and psychological effects, as experienced by 8-year-old Lucy who was stung over 60 times on each foot at sleepaway camp.
• The red imported fire ant, native to South America, arrived in the U.S. in the 1930s and spread rapidly across Texas, causing significant damage to agriculture, ecosystems, and public health, with estimated costs of $1.2 billion annually by 1998.
• Efforts to eradicate fire ants using pesticides were largely unsuccessful and later abandoned due to the carcinogenic nature of the chemicals; research has since focused on biological control, notably introducing phorid flies that parasitize and reduce fire ant populations.
• Despite some natural predators helping to control their numbers, fire ants remain resilient due to traits like multiple queen colonies and adaptability, making eradication difficult but manageable through bait products and physical methods like boiling water.
• Fire ant stings cause painful pustules and itching; experts advise against scratching to prevent infection and recommend cold compresses or anti-itch treatments, while also noting that fire ants provide minor ecological benefits such as soil aeration.