Fire Ants

Anne-Marie Callcott---USDA-APHIS

David Oi----USDA-ARS Roberto Pereira---USDA-ARS Sanford Porter---USDA-ARS Bart Drees---Texas A&M University Walter Tschinkel-Florida State Univ.– his...

Ant

Small but aggressive, fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) are reddish-brown insects known for their painful stings and large, visible mounds in lawns and g...

Ant Antennaae

These small reddish-brown insects are known for their painful stings and aggressive behavior, commonly building large mound nests in sunny areas of la...

Ant Biology

Feeding and Nutrition Eat many different kinds of

These small, reddish-brown insects are notorious for their aggressive behavior and painful stings, commonly found in Middle Tennessee lawns like those...

Ant Management

Identify the ant. Find out where the queen ant is

Fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) are aggressive pests with reddish bodies and a painful sting, commonly found around lawns and gardens in Middle Tenness...

Ant Summary

These small, reddish-brown fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) are aggressive pests known for their painful stings and fast-moving colonies. They build dis...

Ant Termite Comparison

Fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) are reddish-brown insects known for their aggressive behavior and painful stings, commonly found in lawns and gardens a...

Ants

Small, reddish-brown fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) are notorious for their painful stings and aggressive behavior, often forming large mounds in lawn...

Buenos Aires, Argentina

This aggressive fire ant species, native to South America, is characterized by its reddish-brown color and painful sting that can cause allergic react...

Colony Formation

New colonies are founded by newly mated females (queens).

New fire ant colonies in Middle Tennessee, including areas like Columbia and Franklin, are established when newly mated queen ants start a nest. These...

Control Agents for Fire Ants

Thelohania solenopsae

Two Self-Sustaining Biological Pseudacteon...

Culpepper 1953*

Infested Counties – ca 1953 17,768,669 acres * Compiled from surveys conducted by USDA personnel between 1949-1953 Partially Infested Nursery Infested...

Development

Worker immature and mature stages

Worker fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) progress through distinct immature stages—egg, larva, and pupa—before emerging as mature adults. These workers a...

E.O. Wilson’s discovery in May,1942

In May 1942, a young E.O. Wilson made a groundbreaking discovery while studying fire ants (Solenopsis invicta), observing their complex social behavio...

Fire Ant

These aggressive red ants measure about 1/8 to 1/4 inch long and build distinctive mound-shaped nests in sunny areas of lawns and gardens. Fire ants d...

Fire Ant Control Today

Broadcast bait applications

Broadcast granular materials Individual mound treatments Combination of broadcast baits and individual mound treatments Barrier treatments around stru...

Food Sources

Fire ants eat a

Fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) are attracted to a wide variety of food sources, including proteins, sugars, and greasy substances, making them a commo...

Fourth

These aggressive insects are reddish-brown and about 1/8 to 1/4 inch long, known for their painful stings and large, mounded nests in lawns and open a...

Granular Fire Ant Baits

--Insecticide is dissolved in attractant (oil) and absorbed on granules. --Ants forage and return bait to the colony. --Ants feed on bait by sucking o...

Group

Solenopsis geminata

Solenopsis geminata species of the known from South America. introduced species and 2 hybrid species According to Trager (1991), there are 17...

I. b. Imported Fire Ant Identification and Biology

Recognizable by their reddish-brown bodies and aggressive behavior, imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) build large mound nests in lawns and open ...

Impact of Fire Ants

Environmental quality

iodiversity Recreation & Tourism Transportation (roadways) Human health Agriculture & Livestock...

Imported Fire Ants: 1930’s & 40’s

Cyanide dust

1937: the 1st organized control program began with ca. 2000 acres in Baldwin Co. treated with Calcium 1940-1947: During these years (WWII), all contro...

Imported Fire Ants: 1950’s

Environmental concerns begin 1958

1957: U.S. Congress appropriated $2.4M to USDA for federal/state cooperative control & eradication program Nov. 1957: heptachlor & dieldrin applied by...

Imported Fire Ants: 1960’s

1960: mirex bait developed by the USDA 1962, mirex bait replaced heptachlor as treatment for fire ants 1962: publication of Silent Spring...

Imported Fire Ants: the Mirex years

Total treatment costs = .30 cents/acre

Late 1960’s: mirex residues detected in All registrations of mirex cancelled in 1978 Persisted in environment Accumulated in nontarget organisms Toxic...

in a 3-year study in

Invasion of RIFA

at rate of 6:1 Soc. Am.) monitored the invasion Texas and showed that it replaced S. geminata • Porter et al. 1988 (Ann. Entomol....

in South

Solenopsis invicta

, Solenopsis richteri northern most range is from S. richteri’s southeastern Brazil (Rio Negro, Parana) west to Misiones Province, Argentina, and its...

Infested Counties – ca 1939*

Adkins 1970* * Did not differentiate between whole and partial infestations Partially Infested Not Infested...

Introductions of Imported Fire Ants

S. richteri S. saevissima The BIFA probably entered the U.S around 1918 and the RIFA followed in the early 1930’s but having 2 color forms, black and ...

Larval Stages

Larvae molt four times over a 12-15 day period.

During the larval stages of fire ants (Solenopsis spp.), larvae molt four times over 12-15 days, gradually increasing in size before pupating. These i...

Lateral

Lateral foraging tunnel

Lateral foraging tunnels are shallow underground passages created by fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) to search for food and expand their colony. These ...

Medical Importance

Bite and Sting Multiple Times

Fire ants, known for their reddish-brown bodies and aggressive behavior, can deliver multiple painful stings that cause burning sensations and allergi...

Missouri Ants

Hundreds of species Not all considered pests. Seve

Fire ants, common in Middle Tennessee areas like Franklin and Brentwood, are reddish-brown insects known for their aggressive behavior and painful sti...

Missouri Dolichoderinae

This fire ant species, Missouri Dolichoderinae, is characterized by its reddish-brown color and aggressive behavior, often building large mounds in la...

Missouri Formicinae

Missouri Formicinae fire ants are small, reddish-brown insects known for their aggressive behavior and painful stings, commonly found in lawns and gar...

Missouri Myrmecinae

These small, reddish-brown ants are part of the Myrmecinae subfamily and can be mistaken for fire ants due to their aggressive behavior and painful st...

Missouri’s Top Ten

Little black ant Pharaoh ant* Acrobat ant Pavement

These small ants, including the Pharaoh ant (Monomorium pharaonis) and Acrobat ant, are common in Middle Tennessee areas like Franklin and Brentwood, ...

Mobile, AL area

infestation limited to Mobile area 1931: Three new areas infested in Mobile Co. and also...

More than 140 million acres treated

AIRCRAFT BEING LOADED WITH MIREX BAIT...

Mound Development

Small, reddish-brown fire ants often build conspicuous mounds in sunny areas of lawns and gardens, particularly common around Franklin and Brentwood. ...

Multiple Queen Colony

More than one queen in each colony

Multiple queen colonies in fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) result in larger, more aggressive infestations that are harder to control due to increased r...

Myrmecinae

Imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) 10S Ante

Known for their aggressive behavior and painful stings, imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) are reddish-brown insects that build large mound nests...

Origin & Introduction

Fire ants, particularly the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta), originated in South America and were accidentally introduced to the United Sta...

Pest Ant Identification

Small reddish-brown ants with segmented bodies, fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) are known for their aggressive behavior and painful stings. They build ...

Polymorphism

Polymorphism in Worker Ants

Worker fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) exhibit polymorphism, meaning they vary in size and role within the colony. Larger workers specialize in defense...

Potential Range of Fire Ants

Light blue = improbable

Korzukhin, Porter, Thompson & Wiley Environ. Entomol. 30: 645-655, 2001 Dark blue = undetermined Green = possible Red = certain Black dots = not enou...

Reinfestation by RIFA

Apply insecticide that eliminates 100% of

(monogyne populations) Initial pop: 15 to 40+ mounds per acre 6-8 Weeks: tiny new nests may be seen 6 Months: 2 to 5 inch diameter mounds; possibly 40...

Scope of Fire Ant Problems

Infests over 330 M acres

OK, AR, TN, TX, in U.S. & Puerto Rico. over a billion $$ NC, VA, MD, NM, AZ, & CA Est. overall cost of the fire ant infestation across the...

Single Queen Colony

One queen per colony

A single queen colony of fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) typically features one dominant reproductive female responsible for egg-laying, leading to a h...

Social Organization

Fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) live in highly organized colonies with distinct roles for workers, soldiers, and reproductive ants. This social structu...

Sod Farm

These aggressive pests are reddish-brown ants measuring about 1/4 inch long, known for building large, unsightly mounds in lawns and sod farms through...

Solenopsis

Precipitation* based on Temperature & World Distribution of Red = can survive White = unlikely...

spp. in the U.S.

Solenopsis richteri

, black imported fire ant , tropical fire ant , red imported fire ant , desert fire ant , southern fire ant...

Spread of Imported Fire Ants

Mating flights

1949: Wilson & Eads survey found 14 counties in MS, 12 AL, & 2 FL infested In 1953, ca. 23 years after their arrival, a 4-year survey by the USDA show...

Structures

Apply perimeter band of granular or liquid insecticide to

Three–Step Method for Treating outside of structure Broadcast bait to lawns surrounding structure outside the perimeter barrier Wait 3 days to allow f...

Termite Antennae

Termite antennae are short, straight, and bead-like, distinguishing them from the elbowed antennae of fire ants. These pests cause significant damage ...

The

The fire ant has 4 life stages

These aggressive pests undergo four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult, with colonies often building large mounds in lawns and gardens throughou...

the U.S.

Reasons RIFA Dominate Habitats in reinfestation Produce large numbers of reproductives Few natural enemies Little competition...

Trophallaxis

Foraging ants bring the food back to the nest.

Foraging fire ants collect food and bring it back to the nest, where they share it through a process called trophallaxis, passing nourishment mouth-to...

Wojcik,1994

Pheidole dentata

First became infested with RIFA 1972 Area never received any large scale fire ant 9 years later, RIFA became the most abundant ant species This occurr...

Workers

Workers of fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) are small, reddish-brown insects measuring about 1/8 inch long, responsible for foraging and colony maintena...