Solenopsis geminata solegeoverview eppo global database. The red imported fire ant solenopsis invicta, also known as the fire ant or rifa, is a species of ant native to south america. The sol gem 2 allergen found in the venom of the thai tropical fire ant solenopsis geminata was analysed in the present study. The community ecology of ants formicidae in indonesian. Text is available under the creative commons attributionsharealike license. Monitoring and control of ginger ants in nurseries d.
Solenopsis invicta, solenopsis richteri abstract the red imported. It usually invades open areas but can easily colonise human infrastructure and agricultural systems, such as coffee and sugarcane plantations in hot climates. It is difficult to identify because it looks nearly the same as the tropical fire often called the red ant which is very common throughout the pacific. The tropical fire ant, solenopsis geminata fabricius, 1804, is a wellknown pest in many parts of the world, where it is notorious for its potent sting. In the crop season, they foraged across mud during periods of up to one week when farmers allow irrigated rice fields to drain before flooding. Solenopsis geminata inhabits the tropics worldwide.
They should not be confused with fire ants solenopsis invicta which do not occur in the northern territory. Solenopsis geminata, are abundant in tropical areas around the world fig. Formicidae in northern florida in relation to habitat and disturbance. Solenopsis geminata colonies are large, with tens to hundreds of thousands of workers. Workers and alate queens of solenopsis geminata share. Solenopsis are stinging ants and most of their common names reflect this, for example, ginger ants and tropical fire ants. Medium solenopsis geminata is a mediumsized reddish species with 10segmented antennae, twosegmented antennal clubs, no antennal scrobes, no propodeal spines, unsculptured heads and bodies, abundant thin and erect pilosity, and a polymorphic worker caste.
The protein was present in higher amounts than other proteins, as determined by sdspage, and presumably has allergenic properties similar. It includes a seemingly stereotypic pair of groundforaging ant species, the ubiquitous tropical fire ant, solenopsis geminata f. The protein was present in higher amounts than other proteins, as determined by sds. Only the red imported fire ant has a median clypeal tooth and a striated mesepimeron see figures. For details on management of this species including preventative, physical, chemical and biological control please read our pdf file on management information.
Introduction the genus solenopsis includes both the fire ants, known for their aggressive nature and potent sting, and the minute thief ants, many of which are lestobiotic subterranaen or arboreal species that are rarely collected. Media in category solenopsis geminata the following 109 files are in this category, out of 109 total. Solenopsis invicta rifa and solenopsis geminata red ant the red imported fire ant is a major threat to the micronesian region. Decided to give them a new place to explore and live in. In the present study, we further investigated the composition of harvested seeds in ant nests and seed selection by workers. We do not use these to store personal information about you. Solenopsis geminata on the galapagos islands is less well studied than wasmannia, but appears to have an impact on invertebrates causton et al. In argentina, about 20 percent of the red imported fire ant colonies are infected.
While every effort has been made to provide the most reliable and uptodate information available, ultimate legal requirements with respect to species are contained in. Positive association between densities of the red imported fire ant, solenopsis invicta hymenoptera. Solenopsis geminata and other species foraged into, and nested within, dry fallowed fields after the crop was harvested. Itis taxonomy is based on the latest scientific consensus available, and is provided as a general reference source for interested parties. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. Strategies of the invasive tropical fire ant solenopsis geminata to minimize inbreeding costs article pdf available in scientific reports 91 december 2019. This species should not be confused with the red imported fire ant solenopsis invicta which does not occur in the northern territory.
Solenopsis invicta is a mediumsized reddish species with 10segmented antennae, twosegmented antennal clubs, no antennal scrobes, no propodeal spines, unsculptured heads and bodies, abundant thin and erect pilosity, and a polymorphic worker caste. Distribution of the fire ants solenopsis invicta and s. Family formicidae subfamily myrmicinae genus species solenopsis geminata fabricius, 1804. Solenopsis geminata fabricius mississippi state university. They are native to central america and introduced to other areas, including trinidad and tobago, 2016. The tropical fire ant, solenopsis geminata, is a globally distributed invasive species.
We compared the sequences by blastsimilarity searches to identify shared satellites within the two topten lists. Formicidae encompasses ant species commonly called fire ants because of their painful sting. Solenopsis geminata has evolved a major worker caste for seed milling and granivory while the species is largely a dietary generalist. This species is believed to be native to central america. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. Solenopsis geminata has spread almost worldwide by human commerce.
It is a close relative of the wellknown common fire ant solenopsis invicta. The top ten satellites and their summary statistics for both species are shown in additional file 3. Fire ant is the common name for several species of ants in the genus solenopsis. Solenopsis geminata is the only member of the group that occurs in costa rica, although it occurs in a red form that is more abundant in open areas and a black form that prefers forested areas. A revision of the fire ants, solenopsis geminata group hymenoptera. Family formicidae subfamily myrmicinae genus species. Scientific name solenopsis geminata originally from usa probably spread during ww2 in the pacific now found in australia and throughout the pacific has a painful sting. Although the venom compositions of various fire ant species have been studied, the effects of environmental cues on the secretion pattern have received relatively little attention in an area with subtropical climate and high. A subsequent analysis using pcr and sequencing confirmed the presence of spiroplasma in additional colonies of both solenopsis species. Chin, entomology, darwin appearance and biology ginger ants solenopsis geminata, also known as tropical fire ants have been established in the northern territory since 1915 or earlier. Impacts environmental preys on other animals including sea turtles, crocodiles, birds.
A member of the genus solenopsis in the subfamily myrmicinae, it was described by swiss entomologist felix santschi as a variant in 1916. The variation in piperidine alkaloid structures has useful taxonomic characters. Solenopsis may also be confused with smaller species of monomorium. They they are native to central america and introduced to other areas, including trinidad and tobago. Porter, usdaars, b lateral view of major worker, c lateral view of minor worker, c head of major worker, d head of major worker. This page contains information about the red imported fire ant solenopsis invicta and its potential impacts in hawaii, including links to some of the best solenopsis invicta sites on the web. The many physiological effects of the venom are caused by 2methyl6alkyl andor alkenylpiperidine alkaloids.
Galleries extend out into the surrounding soil, surfacing at foraging zones at a distance from the nest. Solenopsis geminata prohibited invasive ant tropical fire ants get their name from their powerful sting, which results in a painful burning sensation. It is evaluated that these fire ant species injure persons and impact on ecosystem, and argentine. The species was well established in hawaii by the 1870s reimer et al. Notes on taxonomy and nomenclature top of page taber 2000 provided the historical background of the taxonomic status of the tropical fire ant, s. Ants have evolved very complex societies and are key ecosystem members. Continuing to use this website means you agree to our use of cookies. Other characters that might help in the identification include.
Every ant tells a story and scientists explain their stories here. The largest workers have disproportionately large and squareshaped heads. Let us first consider how the components that make up body length change as body length increases. The environmental or genetic determinants of these forms are unknown. Hopefully this will give me chance to clean their outworld current home. Sol i 2 is a potent allergen in solenopsis invicta venom, and most humans exhibit reactivity to it. Composition of harvested seeds and seed selection by the. A black form also found solenopsis richteri with almost identical ecology and biology. In this case, the distinctly 2segmented club will allow the identification of. It has been spread worldwide by human commerce and is now abundant in most tropical areas around the world. They are, however, only a minority in the genus, which includes over 200 species of solenopsis worldwide. Characterization of the allergen sol gem 2 from the fire. A revision of the fire ants, solenopsis geminata group.
In mainland united states they are found from texas to south carolina and florida. While the tropical fire ant species is related to the red imported fire ant solenopsis invicta, and share similar traits and behaviours, they are a little smaller and are. However, it is not a legal authority for statutory or regulatory purposes. Surveys in the unites states did not detect this disease organism until 1996, when it was discovered in florida. The question in the solenopsis fire ants is to what degree are increases in worker size range associated with changes in shape, and to what degree is increase in size range necessary for a change of shape. Potential global range expansion of the invasive fire ant, solenopsis invicta. The tropical fire ant, solenopsis geminata was categorized as invasive alien species by the law together with argentine ant, linepithema humile, and red imported fire ant, solenopsis invicta. Nests are in the soil, usually in the form of a large exposed soil mound. Potential biological control agents for the red imported. Secretion profiles of venom alkaloids in solenopsis. The fire ants comprise a group of 18 to 20 species that are native to the new world and within the genus solenopsis. Monitoring and control of ginger ants in nurseries 2008.