Authoritative look at five economically important species: The red imported fire ant, the black imported fire ant, the tropical fire ant, the southern fire ant, and the golden fire ant. Begins with a general introduction and a history of their invasion of North America and continues with additional chapters on natural history, origin and evolution, animals that share the fire ants' nest, the mixed successes of chemical control, and natural enemies and the hopes for biocontrol. Also examined are the pros and cons of fire ants, their medical importance, and suggestions for future research. The appendices list all known fire ant species and explain how to prepare, preserve, and identify every known species occurring in the United States.