Red Imported Fire Red Imported Fire

AntAnt

James WilhelmJames Wilhelm

NamesNames

The Red Imported Fire The Red Imported Fire Ant is also known by its scientific Ant is also known by its scientific name name Solenopsis invictaSolenopsis invicta or they or they are sometimes simply called are sometimes simply called RIFA, Fire Ants, or Red Ants .RIFA, Fire Ants, or Red Ants .

The Red Imported Fire ants were The Red Imported Fire ants were introduced in the United States in the introduced in the United States in the 1930’s. Ships from 1930’s. Ships from Brazil unloaded cargo to Mobile, Brazil unloaded cargo to Mobile, Alabama accidentally containing the Alabama accidentally containing the Red ants.Red ants.

The Red fire ant is native to North The Red fire ant is native to North America America

Red imported fire ants usually build Red imported fire ants usually build mounds that could be up to 18 mounds that could be up to 18 inches in diameter and 18 inches inches in diameter and 18 inches high. It was reported in Alabama that high. It was reported in Alabama that some mounds were found to be over some mounds were found to be over 2 feet high.2 feet high.

Fire ants can be a problem to people Fire ants can be a problem to people that are sleeping or bedridden that are sleeping or bedridden because they can bite or sting because they can bite or sting individuals. individuals.

They do the worst damage in hot, dry They do the worst damage in hot, dry weather. They invade flowerbed and weather. They invade flowerbed and gardens searching for moisture and gardens searching for moisture and warmth.warmth.

If the red imported fire ant is If the red imported fire ant is disturbed, it can bite and sting the disturbed, it can bite and sting the intruder.intruder.

Red imported fire ants can crawl into Red imported fire ants can crawl into air conditioning units and destroy the air conditioning units and destroy the electrical wiring on traffic lights. In electrical wiring on traffic lights. In Texas, the ants cause more the $140 Texas, the ants cause more the $140 million dollars in damage each year.million dollars in damage each year.

Sizes of Red imported fire Sizes of Red imported fire antsants

The Average size of the Red The Average size of the Red Imported Fire ant is 3-6 mm long.Imported Fire ant is 3-6 mm long.

DamageDamage

Red Imported Fire ants are Red Imported Fire ants are Omnivorous, they feed on any living Omnivorous, they feed on any living or dead plant, or animals.or dead plant, or animals.

Red imported fire ants destroy the Red imported fire ants destroy the seeds, fruit and seedlings of many seeds, fruit and seedlings of many types of native plants.types of native plants.

Fire ants will attack reptile or bird Fire ants will attack reptile or bird eggs, nestling birds, beehives, adult eggs, nestling birds, beehives, adult reptiles, rodents, birds, and reptiles, rodents, birds, and amphibians. amphibians.

Fire Ants build huge dome shaped Fire Ants build huge dome shaped mounds, the nest building is mostly mounds, the nest building is mostly active after the rain.active after the rain.

LifespanLifespan

The Average life span of an adult red The Average life span of an adult red imported fire ant is 60-150 days, a imported fire ant is 60-150 days, a queen red imported fire ant can live queen red imported fire ant can live up to 10 years.up to 10 years.

FactsFacts

The red imported fire ant species The red imported fire ant species have been found in New Zealand, have been found in New Zealand, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin islands.Puerto Rico, and the Virgin islands.

Worker ants become mature 2-4 Worker ants become mature 2-4 weeks after hatching.weeks after hatching.

The The Solenopsis invictaSolenopsis invicta or red or red imported fire ant is a small ant, most imported fire ant is a small ant, most are 3-6 mm in length.are 3-6 mm in length.

Red imported fire ants can be Red imported fire ants can be controled with insecticides such as controled with insecticides such as carbaryl, diazinon, dursban. carbaryl, diazinon, dursban.

http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/docs.hhttp://www.ars.usda.gov/main/docs.htm?docid=3611tm?docid=3611

http://www.sms.si.edu/IRLSpec/Solenhttp://www.sms.si.edu/IRLSpec/Solenopsis_invicta.htmopsis_invicta.htm

http://ipmworld.umn.edu/chapters/http://ipmworld.umn.edu/chapters/lockley.htmlockley.htm