According to the responses you entered, this is likely the pest you are dealing with. To confirm this, use the positive identification section.
Scientific Name
Solenopsis invicta
Biology
These ants live in mounds that when disturbed can provoke an aggressive response. Fire ants feed on a variety of food sources. They will sometimes feed on planted sorghum seed. They chew through the coating of the seed and consume the embryo. The prefer germinating wet seeds over dry ones. Fire ants can be beneficial and detrimental at the same time since they are often predators and may feed on harmful insects like caterpillars. They will also tend aphids. Aphids provide the ants with honeydew for food and the ants provide protection against aphid predators.
Positive Identification
Fire ant behavior is highly aggressive in response to mound disturbances as shown in the video above. The size of workers can vary greatly. Red imported fire ants are typically reddish brown in color with their last segment, known as the gaster being black. The exact identification of ant species can be difficult. If you desire more information about key characteristics this page may be helpful.
Regional Information
Fire ants typically only feed on sorghum seed in the eastern and southern regions of Texas. Problems only occur when conditions are right.
Scouting Tips
You can scout a field for fire ants by looking for the mounds. Most of the time they are easily spotted. Focus on the ground and look for holes. If present, you will see a mound of dirt elevated above the nearby ground. On top there will be a clear hole with ants going in and out.
Although we tried to include the most significant pests related to sorghum our tool cannot help you identify every insect found on sorghum. This tool is built to inform you of the most common and significant pests of sorghum in Texas. If the insect you are dealing with does not match the description above then talk to your extension agent or visit this page to look at all the different important potential pest associated with each part and growth stage of sorghum. For management information of a specific pest talk to your local extension office.