Tropical fire ant

Habitat

• A hot climate specialist, residing in only hot arid regions and nesting in open areas with dry to moist soil
• It can survive in climate-controlled buildings, greenhouses and other human dwellings and infrastructure
• It prefers disturbed habitats, such as forest edges and agricultural crops

Description

• Worker ants have two physically different forms, both with a total body length of 3-5mm long
• Two colour forms exist; a red form in more open areas and a black form in more forested areas
• Worker ants are capable of stinging humans
• Reproductive males and females are winged
• Queen ants lay eggs, which take up to 2 months to develop
• Introduced colonies can be multiclonal, with one queen or uniclonal, with multiple nests and queens
• Uniclonal colonies can reach high local densities and dominate entire habitats
• It feeds on the seeds of many plant species

Origin and Worldwide Distribution

• The native range is disputed but thought to be Central and South America, the Caribbean Islands and Southern USA
• It is now present in all South and Central American countries, Asia, Oceania and Africa
• A population established in a building in the Netherlands was eradicated

Potential or Known Impacts

• Interferes with native seed dispersal
• Reduces seed stock of native plants by direct consumption of seeds
• Consumes seeds and seedlings of commercially important crops such as tomatoes and corn
• Loss of local ant populations
• These ants give a painful sting to humans and domestic animals
• They can have a positive impact, preying on other crop pests

Is it found in Northern Ireland?

• It is not currently present in Northern Ireland

How could it get here?

• Introductions are a result of the accidental human transport of soil or materials containing colonies or mated queen ants
• For example via the horticultural trade and as stowaways on airplanes or sea-freight
• This is the likely pathway for spread today

Management/Methods for Prevention

• Prevention via enforcing the IAS (Enforcement and Permitting) Order (Northern Ireland) ensuring that S. geminata is not introduced to Northern Ireland
• Reporting any sightings so that Rapid Response can be instigated
• If Rapid Response is not successful, management can include physical, biological and chemical control

Current Legislative Position (Listed on 02 August 2022)

• This species must not intentionally be brought into the Union; kept; bred; transported to, from or within the United Kingdom, unless for the transportation to facilities in the context of eradication; placed on the market; used or exchanged; permitted to reproduce, grown or cultivated; or released into the environment.

Species Related Files:

RA_Solenopsis_geminata_Tropical_fire_ant