ABSTRACT
Since its introduction into the United States, the “imported” fire ant, Solenopsis invicta has caused many rural and urban problems (Vinson and Sorensen 1986). Documented problems include medical (Adams and Lofgren 1982, Clemmer and Serfling 1975, Rhoades et al. 1977), threats to domestic animals (Wilson and Eads 1949, Hunt 1976) or wildlife (Sikes and Arnold 1986, Mount 1981) and predations on crops (Adams et al. 1983, Apperson and Powell 1983). Many of the problems and economic impact due to the fire anťs expansion in the United States have been reviewed by Lofgren (1986). As Lofgren (1986) and Vinson and Sorensen (1986) observed, fire ants have been implicated in damage of electrical equipment. However, little documentation exists as to the type of damage and the types of equipment most susceptible to ant damage.
