Fire Ant (Solenopsis invicta)

Red fire ants are quite small, around 8mm in length, and reddish brown in colour, although at a distance appear pale brown. They were introduced into Brisbane in 1999, and have been slowly spreading since. A conical mound marks the entrance of the subterranean nest, which they guard aggressively. Numerous stings are the norm in fire ant envenomations. While no deaths from this species have been recorded in Australia, fatalities have occurred overseas.