Fire ants aren’t that odd but their behavior certainly is. Fire ants are a scourge of the southern United States. Wikipedia says: “in the US the FDA estimates that more than $5 billion is spent annually on medical treatment, damage, and control in Red Imported Fire Ant 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.” They are an invader species and truly a pest.