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Common Family Name : Ants : Red imported fire ant
Common Name: Red imported fire ant
Latin Name: Solenopsis invicta Buren
Common Family Name: Ants
Latin Family Name: Formicidae
Other Names: RIFA
Fire ants, are stinging ants with over 280 species worldwide. They have several common names including Ginger ants and Tropical Fire Ants (English), aka-kami-ari (Japanese), and Feuerameise (German).
The bodies of fire ants, like all insects? bodies, are broken up into three sections: the head, the thorax, and the abdomen, with three pairs of legs and a pair of antennae. Fire ants can be distinguished from other ants b their copper brown head and body with a darker abdomen. The worker ants are blackish to reddish, and their size varies from 2mm to 6mm (0.12in to 0.24 in). These different sizes of the ants can all exist in the same nest.
A typical fire ant colony produces large mounds in open areas, and feeds mostly on young plants, seeds, and sometimes crickets. Fire ants often attack small animals and can kill them. Unlike many other ants, which bite and then spray acid on the wound, fire ants only bite to get a grip and then sting (from the abdomen ) and inject a toxic alkaloid venom called Solenopsin, a compound from the class of piperidines. For humans, this is a painful sting, it hurts, a sensation similar to what one feels when burned by fire- hence the name fire ant- and then aftereffects of the sting can be deadly to sensitive individuals. Although fire ants do not typically seek out and attack the face, they are as likely to attack an exposed and vulnerable face as any other body part. The venom is both insecticidal and antibiotic. Researchers have proposed that nurse workers will spray their brood to protect them from microorganisms.
Fire ants nest in the soil, often near moist areas, such as river banks, pond edges, watered lawns and highway edges. Usually the nest will not be visible as it will be built under objects such as timber, logs, rocks, pavers, bricks, etc. IF there is no cover for nesting, dome- shaped mounds will be constructed, but this is usually only found in open spaces such as fields, parks and lawns. These mounds can reach heights of 40 cm (15.7in).
Colonies are founded by small groups of queens or single queens. Even if only one queen survives, within a month or so the colony can expand to thousands of individuals. Some colonies may be polygynous (having multiple queens per nest).
Queens - A queen is generally the largest individual in the colony. The primary function of the queen is reproduction; she may live for 6-7 years and produce up to 1,500 eggs per day. Many fire ant colonies will have more than one queen.
Males - Mate with the queen ant in order to produce eggs. But soon the make dies off.
Workers - The workers are sterile females who build and repair the nest, care for the young, defend the nest, and feed both young and adult ants. The worker ants also go find supplies to build the nest.
The venom of a fire ant sting causes stinging and swells into a bump. This can cause much pain and irritation at times, especially when stung repeatedly by several at once. The bump often forms into a white pustule, which is at risk of becoming infected if scratched, however if left alone usually go down within a few days, The pustules are unattractive and uncomfortable while active and, if the sting sites become infected, can turn into scars. Additionally, some people are allergic to the venom and, as with many allergies, may experience anaphylaxis, which requires emergency treatment. An antihistamine or topical corticosteroids may help reduce the itching. First aid for fire ant bites includes external treatments and oral medicines (External treatments: a topical steroid cream (hydrocortisone), or one containing aloe vera. Oral medicines: antihistamines.)
Patients who experience severe or life threatening allergic reactions to fire ant insect stings should visit a doctor or hospital immediately upon contact as these reactions can result in death, These more severe reactions include severe chest pain, nausea, severe sweating, loss of breath, serious swelling, or slurred speech.
RIFA originated in South America, entered the United States in the southern states around 1930, and spread rapidly to 17 southeastern states. It has since spread to California and isolated incidents have occurred in other states.
This double-node ant is one of the worst ant pests in the U.S., in terms of human health, property damage, and environmental damage. Colonies may have several hundred thousand workers and dozens of queens in them, and workers very aggressively defend their nest with stinging. Their nests may be located in equipment, causing damage to it, as well as within structures. Nests most commonly are in the soil, identified by the large mound of soil raised above the surface, and they are particularly common in turf. The workers are aggressive predators, feeding on any other insects they find as well as small mammals or birds, earthworms, frogs and lizards.
They dramatically alter the natural habitat when they move into an area. RIFA nests may go as deep as 8 feet in the soil, and have mounds above ground as tall as 3 feet and 2 feet in diameter. They are nocturnal except when the mound is disturbed, at which point they rapidly overwhelm the intruder, and on a chemical command commence stinging simultaneously. Nests may be found in wall voids, rain gutters, bath traps, and under carpets, as well as in electrical equipment. There may be numerous queens in a colony with numerous satellite colonies attached. Their spread may be by budding, and up to 200 mounds per acre have been found.
RIFA is identified by its red head and thorax and red/black abdomen. Long bristly hairs are found over the thorax and abdomen and no spines are on the thorax. The antenna is composed of 10 segments with a 2-segmented club at the end. RIFA may be separated from other fire ant species by the presence of a dark patch in the middle of the forehead area and a short, downward-projecting spine on the clypeus between the jaws. This is a highly polymorphic species, with various sizes of workers within a single colony.
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