Online Encyclopedia
Fire ants
| Fire ants |
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Red Imported Fire Ants |- style="text-align:center;" ! style="background: pink;" | Scientific classification |- style="text-align:center;" |
|- valign=top |Kingdom:||Animalia |- valign=top |Phylum:||Arthropoda |- valign=top |Class:||Insecta |- valign=top |Order:||Hymenoptera |- valign=top |Suborder:||Apocrita |- valign=top |Family:||Formicidae |- valign=top |Subfamily:||Myrmicinae |- valign=top |Tribe:||Solenopsidini |- valign=top |Genus:||Solenopsis |} |- style="text-align:center; background:pink;" !Species |- | 266, see text |} Solenopsis is a genus of ant, of which there are 266 species. Among these is Solenopsis invicta, which is commonly known as Red Imported Fire Ant (RIFA).
With each colony it comes with large mounds in open areas, and feeds on young plants and seeds, and Solenopsis often attacks young animals. It has a painful sting, and the after effects of the sting are deadly to some individuals. The workers are blackish to reddish and vary from 3-6 mm in length. Solenopsis has a very distinctive two segmented antennal club. This is most visible in the front view of the female reproductive.
Species
Some species of Solenopsis include:
- Solenopsis xyloni – southern fire ant
- Solenopsis richteri – black imported fire ant
- Solenopsis molesta – thief ant
- Solenopsis invicta – red imported fire ant
Also notable is the only British representative of the genus, Solenopsis fugax. Horace Donisthorpe found a large colony of these ants at Sandown.
Organic Fire Ant Control Methods
To kill Fire Ants without resorting to costly and poisonous chemicals, simply melt 1/2 bar of lye soap in 5 gallons of water. Pour in a circle around the mound to prevent ants escaping, then stir them up and drench thoroughly. This will kill them instantly, without polluting your lawn or garden, and is totally safe for veggies and pets.
Ants often build nests in potted plants and nursery containers. Diotomaceous Earth, dusted on your skin and clothing, will repel them and prevent their stings. This does not kill, and becomes ineffective when wet, but can make agriculture and greenhouse work much safer and more pleasant, without harming the environment or exposing workers to toxins.