Fire ants live in the soil, in an extensive network of tunnels. How deep this network extends into the ground depends on age and size of the colony, soil texture, and depth of the water table. Tunnels in fire ant nests have been found to a depth of at least 10 feet, but most of the networks of tunnels is shallower starting just beneath the soil surface. Clay soils will have deeper tunnels than sandy soils. Mounds are not necessary for colony survival as long as there is a dark, moist area for protection of the queen. A rule of thumb to use when drenching mounds with an insecticide is to assume that for each inch in height above ground there will be tunnels an inch and a half below ground. Likewise, for flat mounds, for every inch in diameter allow for an inch and a half below ground. That is why it is necessary to use a larger volume of liquid on a big mound than on a small mound.

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