Although most fire ant colonies have only one reproducing queen, multiqueen colonies are common in some areas. Solenopsis are stinging ants and most of their common names reflect this, for example, ginger ants and tropical fire ants. The red imported fire ant, solenopsis invicta buren is a serious invasive insect that is native. A member of the genus solenopsis in the subfamily myrmicinae, it was described by swiss entomologist felix santschi as a variant in 1916. Piperidine and piperideine alkaloids have been identified in fire ant venom. The imported fire ants, particularly the red ones, were more competitive than other ant species and quickly displaced them. Fire ants are more of a problem in new neighborhoods than in older neighborhoods, where there is a more stabilized ecosystem. A great new book about ants was released today, free, for you to download.
Imported fire ants, solenopsis invicta and solenopsis richteri hymenoptera. The red imported fire ant builds mounds in almost any type of soil, but prefers open, sunny areas such as pastures, parks, lawns, meadows and cultivated fields. The black imported fire ant, solenopsis richteri forel, arrived around 1918 and the red imported fire ant, solenopsis invicta buren, in the late 1930s. Since south american fire ants arrived in mobile, alabama, in the 1940s, they have spread to become one of the most reviled pests in the sunbelt. Potential biological control agents for the red imported fire ant. The red imported fire ant rifa was accidentally introduced into the united states from brazil in 1930s and they now infest southern and western states.
Imported fire ants ifa were accidentally introduced into the united states from south america, beginning in about 1918. Recent research in texas has documented that red imported fire ants can have a significant impact on northern bobwhite quail. The exact date and method of introduction is not known. The bestknown member of the genus, the red imported fire ant solenopsis saevissima, also known as s.
Most of these ants are the red imported fire ant or a hybrid between the red and the black species. Pyridine alkaloids in the venom of imported fire ants. The changes in foraging areas of two adjacent imported fire ant, solenopsis invicta buren. Pdf on jan 1, 2007, jesse minor and others published fire ant find. That research was conducted in areas where fire ants are predominately polygynous multiple queen. Aug 17, 2011 fire ant biology basic a resource for master gardeners. Read about the physiology and characteristics of fire ants for help with identification. Biology texas imported fire ant research and management project. Knowing your options will allow you to make better choices to protect your family, pets, and property. Imported fire ant definition of imported fire ant by. In this study, we studied the venom alkaloids of the red imported fire ant, solenopsis invicta buren, the black imported fire ant, solenopsis richteri forel, and the hybrid, s. The abundance of fire ants, however, was also negatively correlated with the densities of 22 of 24 natural enemy taxa in cotton and 14 of 16 natural enemy taxa in soybean.
However, the quickest way to recognize this pest is to observe its aggressive behavior when its nest is disturbed. However, no rigorous tests have been performed elucidating the structure, limits, and important characteristics. The red imported fire ant rifa is native to the state of mato grosso in brazil. Fire ants are stinging ants of the genus solenopsis. Jan 02, 2020 two species of imported fire ants ifa were introduced into the united states from south america at the port of mobile, alabama. Greenon the biology and control of the imported fire ant.
These data suggest that red imported fire ants are important predators of the major insect pests of these crops. Red imported fire ant colonies consist of the brood and several types of adults. They are, however, only a minority in the genus, which includes over 200 species of solenopsis worldwide. Adults that would like to learn how to minimize the impact of fire ants using various management practices and pesticides may visit.
Agricultural commissioners office in phone book under county government. Solenopsis invicta, distribution, infestation, damage, invasion biology, control. Although the red imported fire ant is native to south america, it has become a pest in the southern united states, australia, taiwan, philippines, and the southern chinese provinces of guangdong, guangxi, fujian and hong kong. Red imported fire ant biology red imported fire ants live in colonies that contain creamcolored to white immature ants, often called brood. These ants reproduce rapidly and build mounds in almost any type of soil but prefer open sunny areas such as pastures, parks, golf courses and home. The red imported fire ant rifa, solenopsis invicta buren, is believed to have been. To examine this question i first will cover the fire ants biology and then some of. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. Red imported fire ants will quickly climb onto and sting anything touching their mound or food source. The arrival of imported fire ants into an ecosystem wrecks havoc on the local ecological community. Formicidae, are social insects that usually produce hills or mounds in open areas where the colonies reside. We hope after reading and coloring in this book you will have a better understanding about imported fire ants and how they live. The red or yellowish ants are one to five millimetres in length and can inflict a severe sting. Imported fire ants interfere with outdoor activities and harm wildlife throughout the southern u.
Native ant species compete with imported fire ants for food and can reduce. The twostep method and other approaches described here can lower that cost while reducing environmental damage and improving fire ant control. Impact of imported fire ants in the united states of america. For hunters, fire ants can be a threat because of their multiple stings and because they affect certain game species see medical problems and treatment considerations for the red imported fire ant. The red imported fire ant has 3 clypeal teeth, whereas the native fire ant, solenopsis xyloni, only has two lateral teeth.
Raft formation by the red imported fire ant, solenopsis invicta. Understand fire ant biology and you will understand why baits work so well to control fire ants and why its important to spread bait throughout the yard, rather than just putting it directly on top of the mound. The books and booklets found here are intended to be used for personal information, educational materials or public outreach to help increase knowledge on invasive species. While it is not possible to eradicate this species, controlling fire ants is. However, the red imported fire ant is viewed as a pest based on other negative impacts they may have on agricultural operations. The red imported fire ant is a generalist predator.
The science behind those fireant rafts by arizona state university a raft of red imported fire ants in north carolina floats over land that normally forms the bank of a pond. The red imported fire ant solenopsis invicta, also known as the fire ant or rifa, is a species of. Fire ant is the common name for several species of ants in the genus solenopsis. Entomology and control of imported fire ants uptodate. The castes include winged males, winged females which are unmated queens. A typical fire ant colony produces large mounds in open areas, and feeds mostly on young plants, seeds, and sometimes crickets. The first confirmed sighting of ifa in tennessee was an isolated infestation in shelby county in 1948, which was quickly eradicated. Fire ant biology mississippi state university extension.
Red imported fire ant biology singlequeen colonies have only. They feed primarily on insects and arthropod pests, which can reduce the need for insecticides in commercial agriculture. Ants american international pictures 1977 or the paperback book, the fire. Distribution of natural enemies and a possible test bed for release of selfsustaining biocontrol agents article full. All articles published in the last 10 years on biological control of fire ants were selected.
Doing nothing is an option that should be considered in areas. Formicidae, has been documented for over a century. Imported fire ant definition is either of two moundbuilding south american fire ants solenopsis richteri and s. If you think you have a fire ant infestation, call the experts at orkin today for inspection. Also within the colonies are adult ants of different types, or castes. Biology texas imported fire ant research and management. In urban areas fire ants feed on flea larvae, chinch bugs, cockroach eggs, ticks and other pests. Today, imported fire ants are present throughout alabama. The imported fire ant, solenopsis invicta, is the most commonly implicated species, although at least two other species can also produce pustular reactions. These fire ants build mounds in almost any type of soil, but prefer open, sunny areas such as meadows, pastures. Mar 11, 20 walter tschinkels passion for fire ants has been stoked by over thirty years of exploring the rhythm and drama of solenopsis invictas biology. Fire ant biology mississippi state university extension service.
Well written and enhanced by an extensive glossary, a thorough bibliography of scientific literature, and more than one hundred photos, maps, and drawings, fire ants engages and informs both. Impact of red imported fire ant infestation on northern. Studies of the territorial dynamics of the red imported fire ant. Fire ants have an expanding but limited range that primarily includes the southeastern united states and southwestern united states fig. The red imported fire ant solenopsis invicta, or simply rifa, is one of over 280 species in the widespread genus solenopsis. Although fire ants do prey on flea larvae, chinch bugs, cockroach eggs, ticks and other pests, the problems they cause usually outweigh any benefits in urban areas. It was introduced into the united states at mobile, alabama, about 1940. Biological control of imported fire ants hymenoptera. Pdf the red imported fire ant, solenopsis invicta buren, hereafter referred to as. Learn about fire ants texas imported fire ant research. The biology of the red imported fire ant and the black imported fire ant is similar. Host specificity and impacts on solenopsis fire ants li chen and henry y.
The only thing i like better than books are free books. The first step is to search for promising natural enemies in the ants native home, considering for importation and release in the united states only natural enemies that specifically attack the red imported fire ant. The raft behavior of the invasive red imported fire ant, solenopsis invicta buren hymenoptera. The brood is comprised of the eggs, larvae, and pupae. Ant mounds are unsightly and may reduce land values. Ant control program preventative maintenance its important to understand that first the fire ant issue is a manmade problem. Medical problems and treatment considerations for the red imported fire ant pdf. The appendices list all known fire ant species and explain how to prepare, preserve, and identify every known species occurring in the united states. I want to take a moment to highlight some historical aspects of fire ant control and present a realistic scenario for the future. If you want to control fire ants, it helps to know a little about their biology. A word about red imported fire ants and pest control philosophy many misconceptions abound in oklahoma regarding the red imported fire ant, its history in the us, and the concept of eradication. A word about red imported fire ants and pest control.
Venomous imported fire ants cause significant medical problems. Red imported fire ant is shown on the head of a match stick a to the left of the cover b of. Estimates of the direct and indirect effects of red imported. The red imported fire ant solenopsis invicta, also known as the fire ant or rifa, is a species of ant native to south america. Therefore, the presence of the ant may be beneficial when consuming other pest species. Pdf biological control of imported fire ants hymenoptera. A mature colony consists of 100,000 to 500,000 polymorphic. And you will learn why, no matter how good a job you do controlling fire ants, they always come back. This is not because qfits fascinating biology, which i will cover, but. Cs lofgrenhistory of the imported fire ants in the united states. Red imported fire ant biology singlequeen colonies have. Alkaloids are an important component of imported fire ant venom.