Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR)

Solenopsis geminata
(Formicidae)

tropical fire ant

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Species description or overview

JAnt: species: Solenopsis geminata
Information on the ant, Solenopsis geminata, and its distribution in Japan are on this Japanese Ant Image Database page.

Solenopsis geminata (Fabricius)
This pest summary on the white-footed ant contains general information on pest hosts, distribution, damage, biology, and management in Hawaii.

AntWatch: Ants of Hawaii
Antwatch provides images and descriptions of ants that have been introduced to Hawaii.

Solenopsis geminata (insect)
Lots of information, including description, range, habitat, diet, life cycle, control, images, and more is provided here.

Information about Solenopsis geminata from IUCN's ISSG/GISD
Information about Solenopsis geminata is available from the Global Invasive Species Database (GISD) (a product of IUCN's Invasive Species Specialist Group [ISSG]).

Solenopsis geminata description and ecology from GISD (ISSG)
A species description and information about the ecology of Solenopsis geminata as an invasive species is provided from the Global Invasive Species Database (GISD). GISD was created and is maintained by IUCN's Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG).


Taxonomy & nomenclature

Solenopsis geminata information from ITIS
The Integrated Taxonomic Information System ITIS provides authoritative taxonomic information on Solenopsis geminata, as well as other plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

Solenopsis geminata (Fabricius, 1804)
ITIS, the Integrated Taxonomic Information System, lists taxonomic data for Solenopsis geminata and allows searches of other databases.


Identification

Key to ant species in Hawaii
13 physical characteristics are the basis of this computer-assisted key for identifying the 48 species of ants in Hawaii.


Impacts

Fire ant predation on (snail) eggs
The predation of the eggs of the apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata) is described on this page.

Fire Ant Bites
Information on how fire ants sting, the physical response to those stings, populations most likely to get stung, medical treatments, and much more is provided by eMedicine.

Effect of a keystone predaceous ant, Solenopsis geminata, on arthropods in a tropical agroecosystem
Arthropod communities with and without S. geminata in a corn/squash agroecosystem in Mexico are compared (note, Ecology, 1982).

Solenopsis geminata impact information from GISD (ISSG)
Impact information regarding Solenopsis geminata as an invasive species is provided from the Global Invasive Species Database (GISD). GISD was created and is maintained by IUCN's Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG).


Prevention

Change in Quarantine Action Policy for Ants Intercepted from Commodities Destined to the State of Hawaii
A policy change regarding quarantine action for ants intercepted from commodities in Hawaii is detailed here. The revised policy went into effect 10 April 2002.


Control methods

Fire Ants in Southern Lawns View info about Adobe Acrobat PDF format
This 16 page documents includes general information, a detailed distribution map for the United States, and an in-depth discussion on control methods.

NATURAL PEST CONTROL FOR HOME GARDENS & LAWNS, Vol. I, #7
A description of the fire ant problem and information on the damage caused and treatments for this imported pest is available here.

The Best Control of Fire Ants
This in-depth site feature information on the species identification, life cycle, control, stings, and more.

The Best Control of Fire Ants in PDF format View info about Adobe Acrobat PDF format
This in-depth site feature information on the species identification, life cycle, control, stings, and more.

Host specificity of four Pseudacteon spp. (Diptera: Phoridae), parasitoids of fire ants in Argentina (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Parasitic flies used as biocontrols for red imported fire ants Solenopsis invicta are not as interested in the tropical fire ant S. geminata.

Solenopsis geminata management information from GISD (ISSG)
Management information for Solenopsis geminata as an invasive species is provided from the Global Invasive Species Database (GISD). GISD was created and is maintained by IUCN's Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG).

Eradication of two exotic ants from Kakadu National Park (Australia) View info about Adobe Acrobat PDF format
The African big-headed ant (Pheidole megacephala) and the tropical fire ant (Solenopsis geminata) were successfully eradicated from the Kakadu National Park through a disciplined program of assessment, treatment, and monitoring.


Images

Solenopsis geminata images
Images of Solenopsis geminata, including line drawing of larvae, are presented by Wikipedia.

Solenopsis geminata images (Starr)
Images of Solenopsis geminata (Formicidae) (tropical fire ant are provided by from Forest and Kim Starr.

Ants of Borneo
Several clickable images can be enlarged to show greater detail.

Ants in Hawaii images
Images of many ant species found in Hawaii are on this page of photos taken by Neil Reimer, Hawaii State Department of Agriculture.


Distribution

Solenopsis geminata -- Tropical Fire Ant
This clickable map shows the distribution of this species around the world.

Ants from Moorea, Society Islands (American Museum of Natural History, 1908)
In 1906-1907, 13 ant species were collected for the American Museum on the island of Moorea (Eimeo), near Tahiti. Some of the species are listed by outdated names.

Invasive species in the Pacific: A technical review and draft regional strategy (2000) View info about Adobe Acrobat PDF format
The status of invasive plants, vertebrates, arthropods, molluscs, and crustaceans, and options for a regional invasive species strategy for the South Pacific are presented in this series of articles from the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme, 2000.

New arthropod records from Kahoolawe (Bishop Museum Occasional Papers, 2004) View info about Adobe Acrobat PDF format
New island records of a variety of arthropods collected on Kahoolawe are reported here.

Solenopsis geminata worldwide distribution from GISD (ISSG)
Worldwide distribution information about Solenopsis geminata is provided from the Global Invasive Species Database (GISD). GISD was created and is maintained by IUCN's Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG).

Checklist of the ants of Fiji (Bishop Museum Occasional Papers, 2006). View info about Adobe Acrobat PDF format
This checklist of the ants of Fiji includes 138 currently valid species and subspecies: 91 Fijian endemics, 22 wide-ranging Pacific natives, and 25 exotics.


Full-text articles

Pacific Ant Prevention Plan View info about Adobe Acrobat PDF format
This proposal was prepared by ISSG for the Pacific Plant Protection Organization and Regional Technical Meeting For Plant Protection in March 2004.

The ecology, policy, and management of ants in Hawaii (Proc. Hawaiian Entomol Soc., 2005)
The ecology and impacts of the roughly 45 ant species introduced to Hawaii, and their implications for agriculture, other sectors of the economy, and the conservation of native biodiversity, are reviewed (abstract with link to full article).

A review of the association of ants with mealybug wilt disease of pineapple (Proc. Hawaiian Entomological Society, 2003)
The mutualism between ants and mealybugs on pineapple is reviewed.

Ants of the Dry Tortugas, the outermost Florida keys
The two dominant ant species of the Tortugas, Pheidole megacephala and Solenopsis geminata, may pose a threat to native fauna, including sea turtle and sea bird nestlings.

Indirect effects of phorid fly parasitoids on the mechanisms of interspecic competition among ants (Oecologia, 1999) View info about Adobe Acrobat PDF format
Promising biocontrol agents, phorid flies caused many Solenopsis geminata workers to assume a stationary, curled defensive posture. The flies also affected foraging behavior of S. invicta.

Invasive species in the Pacific: A technical review and draft regional strategy
South Pacific Regional Environmental Programme (SPREP). Sherley, Greg (ed.) . 2000. Invasive species in the Pacific: A technical review and draft regional strategy. Apia, Samoa: South Pacific Regional Environment Programme. ISBN: 982-04-0214-X.

Maui Offshore Islet Botanical Survey
Starr, F., K. Starr, and Wood K. 2006. Maui Offshore Islet Botanical Survey. Report prepared for State Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Offshore Islet Restoration Committee, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Oahu Offshore Islets Botanical Survey
Starr, F. and K. Starr. 2006. Oahu Offshore Islets Botanical Survey. Report prepared for State Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Offshore Islet Restoration Committee, Honolulu, Hawaii.

The causes and consequenses of ant invasions View info about Adobe Acrobat PDF format
This article reviews the ecological effects of invasive ants on continents and islands. Tables and extensive references are provided.

Introduced ants in Galápagos (Floreana Island): Importance of coompetition, coexistence and aggressive behaviors (doctoral thesis) View info about Adobe Acrobat PDF format
Competitively dominant species Monomorium destructor and Solenopsis geminata monopolize resources on Florean island. Biotic and abiotic factors contributing to their success are discussed.

Determinants for the successful establishment of exotic ants in New Zealand View info about Adobe Acrobat PDF format
The exotic New Zealand ant fauna is examined for characteristics that predict or determine an exotic species' ability to establish. A predictive model based on quarantine records, climate, and ant species size was 71% accurate.


Experts

Solenopsis geminata contacts from GISD (ISSG)
Contact information for experts on Solenopsis geminata as an invasive species is provided from the Global Invasive Species Database (GISD). GISD was created and is maintained by IUCN's Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG).


Discussion forums

Pacific Ant Group e-mail list (PAG-L@HAWAII.EDU)
The Pacific Ant Group discussion forum facilitates communication toward preventing establishment of Red Imported fire ant and other invasive ants on Pacific islands.


Other resources

Solenopsis geminata references from GISD (ISSG)
References regarding Solenopsis geminata as an invasive species is provided from the Global Invasive Species Database (GISD). GISD was created and is maintained by IUCN's Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG).


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The Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk (HEAR) project was historically funded by the Pacific Basin Information Node (PBIN) of the National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) through PIERC (USGS) with support from HCSU (UH Hilo). More details are available online. Pacific Basin Information Node (PBIN) National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII)

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