Hello Gardeners, I’m Amanda McNulty with Clemson Extension and Making It Grow . Believe it or not, in some situations fire ants are considered beneficial insects. They voraciously devour other insects and invertebrates -- sometimes in field crops they eat so many harmful insects that growers can reduce the number of insecticidal sprays applied. Researchers report that ticks populations are lower due to fire ant predation resulting in healthier livestock. But fire ants also protect some insects.