Fire Ants

Of genus Solenopsis, there are 280 different kinds
They sting like fire and they’re redder than wine
Aggressive and will harm you with repeated stings
A quarter of a million of them on you could cling

They build nests behind things or into the ground
The nest can as be high as 18 cm and 61 cm around
Not aggressive by nature until it’s time to eat
Then even a small animal could meet its defeat

They bite just to hang on and pull out of their gut
An alkaloid venom strong enough to kick your butt
Usually just some bad pain and then it will subside
Unless allergic, then a hospital you should go inside

They eliminate other insects that are competition
Will kill them even to the point of their extinction
They don’t hibernate so they are active all the year
Except for man and phorid flies, they’ve nothing to fear

Phorid flies don’t kill them, just lay eggs on their chest
The larvae go into the ant head and has a big fest
Eating the hemolymph, nervous and muscle tissue
In about 2 weeks, that fire ant, is no longer an issue

Queens live for 7 years and lays 1600 eggs in a day
Dead males, ex-virgin wings the Queen tears away
They have males, soldiers, workers and the Queen
All working in unison, they’re a well-oiled machine