1. Egg:
- The life cycle of the fire ant begins with an egg.
- Queen fire ants lay eggs, and each colony can have multiple queen ants.
- The eggs are small, white, and oval-shaped.
- They are typically laid in clusters in the colony's underground nests.
2. Larva:
- After hatching from the eggs, the fire ants enter the larval stage.
- The larvae are small, legless, and white or yellowish in color.
- They have a segmented body and a large head capsule with strong mandibles.
- Larvae are immobile and rely on adult ants in the colony to provide them with food and care.
3. Pupa:
- As the larvae grow, they molt their exoskeletons and eventually enter the pupal stage.
- The pupae are immobile and enclosed in a protective cocoon.
- During this stage, the body of the larva undergoes significant changes, forming the body structure of the adult fire ant.
4. Adult:
- After the pupal stage, the adult fire ants emerge from the cocoons.
- Adult fire ants have distinct body segments, including the head, thorax, and abdomen.
- Depending on their caste (queen, worker, or soldier), they can vary in size and appearance.
- Adult workers and soldiers have well-developed mandibles for foraging, nest defense, and protection of the colony.
- Queens have wings, which they use during their mating flight before establishing new colonies.
It's worth noting that the specific duration of each stage and the overall life cycle of fire ants can vary depending on factors such as temperature, food availability, and the health of the colony. Nonetheless, these four stages are characteristic of the metamorphosis process in fire ants.