<P> Males mate with the queen . They die soon after mating . </P> <P> There are other types of roles in an ant colony like the workers and the soldier ants . The soldier ants are known for their larger and more powerful mandibles while the worker takes care of regular tasks (the main tasks in a colony are caring for the eggs / larvae / pupae, cleaning the nest, and foraging for food). However, Solenopsis daguerrei colonies contain no workers, as they are considered social parasites . </P> <P> Although most fire ant species do not bother people and are not invasive, Solenopsis invicta, known in the United States as the red imported fire ant (or RIFA) is an invasive pest in many areas of the world, notably the United States, Australia, China and Taiwan . The RIFA was believed to have been accidentally introduced to these countries via shipping crates, particularly with Australia when they were first found in Brisbane in 2001 . These ants have now since been spotted in Sydney for the first time . They were believed to be in the Philippines, but they are most likely to be misidentified for Solenopsis geminata ants . </P> <P> In the US the FDA estimates that more than US $5 billion is spent annually on medical treatment, damage, and control in RIFA - infested areas . Furthermore, the ants cause approximately $750 million in damage annually to agricultural assets, including veterinarian bills and livestock loss, as well as crop loss . Over 40 million people live in RIFA - infested areas in the southeastern United States . About 60% of people living in fire ant - infested areas are stung each year . RIFA are currently found mainly in subtropical southeastern USA states including Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and parts of North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and California . </P>

Where are fire ants found in the world