Solenopsis invicta (Formicidae)

Solenopsis invicta
(Formicidae)
red imported fire ant, RIFA, fire ant

HEAR home > species info > invertebrates > Solenopsis invicta (Formicidae)

Species description or overview	Identification	Taxonomy & nomenclature	Pest alerts	Impacts	Control methods
Discussion forums	Prevention	Pests of this species	Images	Distribution	In the news
Full-text articles	Other resources	Teacher resources

The red imported fire ant (RIFA) (Solenopsis invicta) is a small reddish-brown to black ant with a powerful sting. RIFA is native to South America, and has caused severe problems in the southeastern United States and other areas outside its native range where it has been introduced. Solenopsis invicta respond rapidly and aggressively to disturbances and can be very problematic in people's yards and in natural areas. A single fire ant can sting its target repeatedly. Young and newborn animals are especially susceptible. These ants will also girdle young trees and feed on the buds and fruits of numerous crop plants, especially corn, soybeans, okra, and citrus. Large nests located in fields interfere with and damage equipment during cultivation and harvesting, while ant attacks inhibit field-worker activities of agriculture.

Species description or overview

Areawide Suppression of Fire Ants
This website provides information on the USDA's program for suppression of fire ants and includes biological and chemical control techniques.

Imported Fire Ants
The University of Minnesota Imported Fire Ants Station provides information on fire ant distribution (mainland US), history, biology, and control, and links.

Red Imported Fire Ant (RIFA)
California Department of Food & Agriculture provides facts, hotline information, quarantines, maps, and press releases.

USDA-APHIS-PPQ: Imported Fire Ants
This website contains quarantine maps, fact sheets, and other information on fire ants.

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

Solenopsis invicta
A description of Solenopsis invicta, its distribution globally, and its potential impact if existing incursions are allowed to establish themselves in New Zealand is provided by Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research.

Red imported fire ants: Small ants, big problems
This comprehensive, interactive fire ant website was designed as a resource for K-12 schools in Australia.

Fire ants - What are they?
Images, description, behavior, eradication methods, and more on red imported fire ants (RIFA) are provided in this comprehensive Australian site.

Identification

Red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) pest identification flyer
Images of the red imported fire ant and characteristic mounds are in this Maui County report-a-pest page.

Taxonomy & nomenclature

ITIS nomenclature info for Solenopsis invicta
Nomenclatural information about Solenopsis invicta is provided by ITIS.

Pest alerts

A New Ant found in Hawaii

This pest alert from the Hawaii Dept. of Ag. describes a new ant found in the Ewa district of Oahu.

Impacts

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.

Fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) invade USA
The history and impact of the red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) in the United States is provided here, along with case history of a Texas town's response to the invasion.

Control methods

First virus to infect red imported fire ants discovered
The first known virus to infect the destructive and costly red imported fire ant (RIFA) was recently discovered by Agricultural Research Service scientists. The newly found natural agent is a virus in the Dicistroviridae family, which is related to the well-known picorna-like viruses. You are here: News & Events / Photo: Fire ants swarming on a wooden stick. Link to photo information Widely disliked for their venomous, painful stings, fire ants have spread across much of the southern United States. Click the image for more information about it. First Virus to Infect Red Imported Fire Ants Discovered By Jim Core November 30, 2004 The first known virus to infect the destructive and costly red imported fire ant (RIFA) was recently discovered by Agricultural Research Service scientists. RIFA, Solenopsis invicta, currently infests about 300 million acres in the United States. Although RIFA is native to South America, it thrives here because of a lack of natural enemies. Fire ants cost Americans hundreds of millions of dollars annually. The ants occasionally kill young, unprotected livestock and wildlife, and they inflict a painful sting that is sometimes deadly to humans. Steven M. Valles, an entomologist with the ARS Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology (CMAVE) in Gainesville, Fla., and colleagues at CMAVE and the ARS Horticulture and Breeding Research Laboratory in Fort Pierce, Fla., have identified a new natural enemy of RIFA. The newly found natural agent is a virus in the Dicistroviridae family, which is related to the well-known picorna-like viruses. The entire genome has been sequenced, and studies suggest the virus, tentatively named Solenopsis invicta virus-1 (SINV-1), may be an excellent biological control agent for fire ants. Scientists use natural organisms as part of a strategy to reduce RIFA numbers without using pesticides. A survey in Florida locations found that approximately 23 percent of RIFA nests examined were infected with SINV-1. The virus infects all fire ant castes and stages of development, and Valles was able to successfully transmit the viral infection to uninfected fire ant nests. Brood in infected colonies died within three months during laboratory studies, but the effect of the virus on field populations is still being evaluated.... ARS researchers are currently examining SINV-1 to determine its effectiveness and potential for use as a sustainable, microbial control agent against the red imported fire ant.

Partner sought for development of new biological control for fire ants
A virus technology with potential to control red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) is available for licensing from the Agricultural Research Service (ARS). Cooperators are being sought to develop methods for growing and packaging the virus commercially, and for applying it under field conditions.

Fire Ants in Southern Lawns
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
This in-depth site feature information on the species identification, life cycle, control, stings, and more.

Fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) control and treatment
Fire ant control using detection, containment, and eradication is covered on this comprehensive Australian page.

Review of the efficacy of baits used for ant control and eradication
Ant species have varying responses to toxins and baits used for their control. This extensive review of published reports is a preamble to the development of recommendations for New Zealand.

Fire ant eradication in Australia
Efforts to control and eradicate fire ants in Australia are described in the links on this page.

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.

Prevention

A plant for prevention of establishment of new ant species in Hawaii, with special attention to the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta)

A report entitled "A plant for prevention of establishment of new ant species in Hawaii, with special attention to the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta)" is hosted on The Nature Conservancy's website.

Pests of this species

Ability of resident ants to destruct small colonies of Solenopsis invicta (abstract)
Several ant species will attack and eliminate worker-defended S. invicta colonies and prey upon the fire ant brood (Environmental Entomology, 2004).

Images

Images of red imported fire ant (RIFA) (Solenopsis invicta) from forestryimages.org
Numerous images of the red imported fire ant (RIFA) (Solenopsis invicta)--including various life stages, the effects of stings, and the appearance of nests--are provided online by forestryimages.org.

Images of red imported fire ants (RIFA) (Solenopsis invicta) from TAMU
Many (categorized) images of red imported fire ants (RIFA) (Solenopsis invicta) are provided online by the Texas Imported Fire Ant Research and Management Project of Texas A&M University.

Solenopsis invicta info from Discover Life
Information about Solenopsis invicta (red imported fire ant, RIFA)--including images from around the web--is available from the "Discover Life" website.

UC IPM Photo
This image of a red imported fire ant adult is provided by the University of California.

Red imported fire ant (RIFA) (Solenopsis invicta) images and information from The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy presents online information abou the red imported fire ant (RIFA) (Solenopsis invicta).

Distribution

Solenopsis invicta -- Red Imported Fire Ant
This clickable map shows the distribution of this species around the world.

In the news

Afraid of RIFA (Red Imported Fire Ants)? Should be. (Raising Islands Blog, 18 August 2007)
Bloggist Jan TenBruggencate warns of the potential health and economic impacts of an invasion of red imported fire ants in Hawaii.

Hunt on for invasive fire ants (Fiji)
A workshop in Fiji helped entomologists and quarantine officers recognize the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) and the little fire ant (Wasmannia auropunctata).

Article: Students declare war!
Maui high school students are on the front lines identifying invasive ants on the Valley Isle (Maui News, February, 2006).

Battle of the Ants
This ABC News article describes a $123 million five year effort to eradicate the species in Brisbane Australia.

Red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) in New Zealand port exposes threat to Hawaii
An infestation of red imported fire ants (RIFA, Solenopsis invicta) found in a New Zealand port town alerts Hawaii invasive species specialists to the islands' vulnerability to this dangerous pest (The Honolulu Advertiser, Feb 23, 2004, by Jan TenBruggencate).

Full-text articles

The Colony Structure and Population Biology of Invasive Ants

This article reviews the population biology of invasive ants (Linepithema humile & Solenopsis invicta) and focuses on the role of sociality and colony structure in their success.

Protect Autumn 01.indd
This article from the New Zealand Biosecurity Institute outlines efforts to eradicate Linepithema humile and describes how an invasion of Solenopsis invicta was recently intercepted and prevented.

The causes and consequenses of ant invasions
This article reviews the ecological effects of invasive ants on continents and islands. Tables and extensive references are provided.

Other resources

Building a Protective Layer for Hawaii#s Wetlands: Measures to Prevent Invasion by the Red-imported Fire Ant (Solenopsis invicta).

Bishop Museum has posted a copy of this PCSU grant proposal (2001-2002).

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.

SOLENOPSIS INVICTA Other Latin names : Solenopsis saevissima ...
An in-depth description, local history, and discussion of potential eradication and control methods for Solenopsis invicta in Hawaii is given in this document.

Hoike o Haleakala Curriculum # Fire Ants and the Future of Maui Wetlands
This unit engages students in efforts at early detection of fire ants on Maui, and challenges them to help minimize the potential threat to wetlands and endangered species here by developing a prevention and action plan.

Hoike o Haleakala Curriculum # Red Imported Fire Ant Prevention & Quick Response Plan
Students read about Solenopsis invicta and develop a #RIFA Prevention and Quick Response Plan# for the island of Maui.

Hoike o Haleakala Curriculum # Race to the Wetlands Game
In this board style game students learn about good research technique for collecting little red fire ants.

ISSG Database: Contacts for Solenopsis invicta
This is a list of email address for people to contact for more information on Solenopsis invicta.

Teacher resources

Fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) teaching resources
Educational materials on fire ants are available on this page with links to lesson plans, maps, worksheets, and more in PDF and Word formats.

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