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. 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 but are actually a type of wasp. 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?"