Red imported fire ant workers come in a variety of sizes (1/16 to almost 1/4 inch long) with the largest workers two or three times larger than the smallest. Sizes between different colonies can also vary greatly - some mounds may have mainly small workers, whlie others may have more large workers. Queens are about 1/4 inch long. The one-inch-long, fuzzy, red and black "ants" that you see are not imported fire ants. They are called velvet ants or cow killers in some areas, but are actually a type of wasp. Males are winged, while females are not. They can inflict a painful sting but are not considered a pest. The females lay their eggs in bumblebee nests. There are many other species of ants in the Southern U.S. See FAQ #797, "Do you happen to know the approximate number of ant species in my state? How about in the U.S. or North America as a whole?"

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