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Red Imported Fire Ant

Solenopsis invicta

Red Imported Fire Ants are small, reddish-brown ants that live in big colonies. They are known for their painful sting and are often found in warm places like gardens and fields.

Habitat: Urban areas

Appearance

The Red Imported Fire Ant has a reddish-brown body with a darker, sometimes shiny, abdomen. Its body segments vary in size, from small to medium workers, and it lacks obvious hairs. Look for its distinctive two-segmented 'waist' (petiole) that sets it apart.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderHymenopteraFamilyFormicidaeGenusSolenopsis
Red Imported Fire Ant
social trait badgeomnivorous trait badgeburrowing trait badgecolorful trait badge
Red Imported Fire Ant

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

3/5 · Moderate

Snaps

6

Interesting facts

A single fire ant colony can spread over an area the size of a tennis court!

Fire ants are super strong, lifting objects up to 50 times their own weight!

Some fire ant colonies can have many queens, helping them grow super huge!

Their nests can reach deep underground, like a secret ant metropolis!

Special abilities

Ability

Burning Sting

Red Imported Fire Ants can deliver a painful, burning sting because of potent venom that helps them defend their colony.

Ability

Living Raft Builders

Red Imported Fire Ants can link their bodies together to form floating rafts that helps them survive floods and travel on water.

Ability

Super Colony Founders

Red Imported Fire Ants has queens that can lay thousands of eggs daily that helps their colony grow quickly and spread far.

Measurements & details

Size
2-6 mm
Lifespan
30-90 days
Leg Count
6
Colony Size
500000

Watch

Diet & Feeding

These omnivorous ants eat almost anything they find, from insects to seeds and even young plants!

Primary Foods

  • insects
  • seeds
  • young plants
  • honeydew
  • small vertebrates

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

parasitizes

Phorid fly

Pseudacteon tricuspis

These tiny flies lay eggs on fire ants, causing them to lose their heads.

eats

Nine-banded Armadillo

Dasypus novemcinctus

Armadillos are known to dig up fire ant nests and eat the workers.

eaten by

Big-headed Ant

Pheidole dentata

Red Imported Fire Ants often outcompete and prey on this native ant species.

Traits

Also known as

Fire AntImported Fire Ant

Collections

Safety

Danger

3/5 · Moderate

Be careful around fire ant mounds and avoid disturbing them, as their sting can hurt.

Frequently Asked Questions

How big is Red Imported Fire Ant?

2-6 mm

How long does Red Imported Fire Ant live?

30-90 days

What does Red Imported Fire Ant eat?

These omnivorous ants eat almost anything they find, from insects to seeds and even young plants!

Where is Red Imported Fire Ant usually found?

Urban areas

How does Red Imported Fire Ant hunt?

Foraging

How many legs does Red Imported Fire Ant have?

6

How large are Red Imported Fire Ant colonies?

500000

Snap Map

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