Final answer:
Fire ants often bite and sting a person multiple times when they feel threatened, exhibiting aggressive and coordinated defense behavior to protect their colony.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the question on the behavior of fire ants when they encounter a person is option B) Fire ants often bite a person repeatedly. Unlike some other insects, fire ants are aggressive and will sting and bite if they perceive a threat, often doing so multiple times.
Fire ants are known for their sting, which contains venom, and their aggressive defense of their nest. When a fire ant mound is disturbed, they quickly emerge and attack the intruder. Fire ants grab the skin with their jaws and then sting from their abdomen and inject venom. What's particularly notable is that they can both bite and sting multiple times, and the sting of a fire ant is painful and can cause a significant allergic reaction in some individuals. The ants communicate with one another using pheromones, which may contribute to the coordinated attack behavior they exhibit when a threat is detected.
Fire ants' behavior is an example of the complex social behaviors observed in insect colonies, where different individuals may have specialized roles, including defense of the nest. The strong response to potential threats is an instinctive behavior intended to protect the colony.