Fire Ants - Wasp - Bees, OH MY! Spring in Texas brings to our minds beautiful bluebonnets and wildflowers. But spring also brings fire ants, wasp, hornets, and bees, which are not only annoying at picnics but also can be dangerous for venom allergic people. The wingless member of Hymenoptera Order is the Fire Ant, Solenopsis invicta. The Winged members are in two families, Apidae (bees) and Vespidae (hornets, wasp, and yellow jacket). Interestingly, only the female's sting. FIRE ANTS Fire Ants accidentally entered the US between 1918-the 1930s carried on a cargo ship from South America to a port in Mobile, Alabama. They have spread across the southeast and are further migrating. Although they prefer warmer climates, they are migrating north following the warmer areas next to highways and roads. Also, they are mating with native ants, which has made them more cold-tolerant. Global warming will likely allow their migration even further north. They build their mounds in the warm moist soil preferring open, sunny areas, such as pastures, parks, lawns, playgrounds, golf courses and be seen in any green space such as at shopping areas or gas stations. Commonly children can inadvertently step on a mound each summer/spring. The fire ant uses its mandible to grasp its victim, then arches its body and drives its stinger into the skin to release venom. It then pivots around its mandibles and inflicts further stings in a circular pattern. Classically a sterile pustule form 24 hours later. BEES, YELLOW JACKET, WASP, AND HORNETS Flying insects in the order Hymenoptera includes bees, yellow jackets, wasps, and hornets. Honeybee Yellow Jacket Hornet Paper Wasp Honeybees, the Apidae family, live in colonies with up to 65,000 members. They build their nests inside hollow trees or logs. When it stings, it leaves a barbed stinger attached to a venom sac in the victim's skin, resulting in the bee's evisceration and death. Most bee stings occur while people are walking barefoot or handling flowers. Honeybees are docile and only sting when provoked or protecting their...