As the name would imply, be aware of those pesky little critters as you look for this cache. They were in the area and I was sure to be careful that one didn't crawl up my pant leg. I posted a little information about them. They are a pretty common sight in the basin.
In areas where fire ants are commonly found, most people identify this pest by the appearance of the mound. The painful sting of the fire ant’s bite is another good indicator, but not recommended as a method of identification. Fire ants build mounds in almost any type of soil, but they prefer open sunny areas such as pastures, parks, lawns, and fields. Their mounds can grow 18 to 24 inches in height if the soil conditions are right. Often mounds are located in rotting logs and around stumps and trees. Colonies can also occur in or under buildings. The ants themselves are reddish brown in color and roughly 1/8 to 1/4 inch in length.
There are several species of fire ants found throughout the United States some of them indigenous. The Red Imported Fire Ant (Solenopsis invicta) is considered the worst of all varieties. It has become a major pest in many parts of the country. In fact, this ant’s ability to rapidly reproduce, its aggressive swarming behavior, and painful stings, have made the Red Imported Fire Ant one of the most detested insects around. The ant was accidently introduced into the United States during the 1930’s through the port of Mobile, Alabama. Red Imported Fire Ants have currently spread into at least 15 states…. that we know.
