how can you tell the diffence between fire ants and termites and red ants?

Answer 1

The size of the ant. The mounds they build. Their bite.

Answer 2

Size, the type of mound , behavior and shape. Termites look like white ants and will almost never be seen above ground. They will usually only be seen under old logs or on wood stakes pulled out of the ground or something like that. Fire ants build large above ground mounds. They are small, red ants, and are extremely aggressive. If the mound is disturbed, thousands of them will come 'boiling' out immediately. They bite and sting. Most other red ants are larger and much less aggressive. Their mounds are usually very low to the ground, and they don't have stingers.

Answer 3

http://www.termiteidentification.net/termitesvsants.html