Fire ants are a formidable foe, commonly infesting lawns, schoolyards, athletic fields, golf courses and parks. The (imported) fire ant is unique because it is a pest in both urban and rural areas. Their painful stings pose a medical threat to people and animals; when their nest is disturbed, fire ants will aggressively attack the intruder by stinging repeatedly. Their mounds also detract from the aesthetic value of the landscape. They form colonies close to homes and other buildings sometimes foraging indoors for food and moisture where they can threaten sleeping or bed-ridden individuals and pets. They occasionally feed on vegetable plants in home gardens during hot, dry weather. They chew on electrical insulation and can cause short circuits or interfere with switching mechanisms. Air conditioners, traffic signal boxes, and other devices can be damaged. Fire ants also nest in housings around electrical and utility units. The ants move soil into these structures, which causes shorting and other mechanical problems. Fire ants require water to survive. If surface water is unavailable, they tunnel down to the ground water table many feet below the ground.