Fire ants use the trees mainly as a nesting place because there is little or no soil disturbance. Moisture and food resources are plentiful on and around trees and shrubs. Ants in mounds at the base of tree trunks are probably not causing any damage to well established trees. They may actually help by preying on other insects that feed on parts of the tree and may reduce compaction by tunneling in the soil. However, very young, tender trees can be damaged by the ants girdling the plants and allowing roots to be exposed to the air, thus drying out root systems. This has been observed, for example, in crepe myrtles and newly planted citrus trees.