![]() ![]() ants can be identified by three body features-a pedicel with two nodes, an unarmed propodeum, and antennae with 10 segments plus a two-segmented club. In an established nest these different sizes of ants are all present at the same time. The worker ants are blackish to reddish and their size varies from 2 to 6 mm (0.079 to 0.236 in). Fire ants of those species invasive in the United States can be distinguished from other ants locally present by their copper brown head and thorax with a darker abdomen. The bodies of mature fire ants, like the bodies of all typical mature insects, are divided into three sections: the head, the thorax, and the abdomen, with three pairs of legs and a pair of antennae. Appearance ĭetail of the head ( Solenopsis geminata) Wasmannia auropunctata is another unrelated ant commonly called the "little fire ant" due to its potent sting. None of these names apply to all species of Solenopsis nor only to Solenopsis species for example the colloquial names for several species of weaver ants in the genus Oecophylla in Southeast Asia include "fire ants" because of their similar coloration and painful bites the two genera, however, are not closely related. Both Myrmica rubra and Pogonomyrmex barbatus are common examples of non-Solenopsis ants being termed red ants. Many of the names shared by this genus are often used interchangeably to refer to other species of ant, such as the term red ant, mostly because of their similar coloration despite not being in the genus Solenopsis. Solenopsis are stinging ants, and most of their common names reflect this, for example, ginger ants and tropical fire ants. While red harvester ants are known to dwell primarily outdoors, winged ants can accidently invade homes during swarming periods.Fire ants are several species of ants in the genus Solenopsis, which includes over 200 species. Red harvester ants participate in "hill-topping," gathering around prominent points within a landscape - such as tall trees, chimneys and towers - while searching for mates. For this reason, it is common to witness large numbers of winged ants appearing in one area. ![]() The swarming behavior of red harvester ants is commonly synchronized with nearby colonies. Red harvester ant mating swarms take place within a single day. Although mating swarms occur between June and October, they are most common in the months of August and September. Red harvester ants are most active in warm temperatures, and mating swarms typically occur in the afternoon after rainfall or heavy storms. Red harvester ant mating swarms occur annually in warm environments and at elevated heights. After mating, the mated females shed their wings and establish new nesting sites. ![]() They are attracted to each other by pheromones. ![]() The fertilized females establish new colonies and become queens.ĭuring red harvester ant mating swarms, winged males and females emerge from their colonies. Male ants exist for the sole purpose of reproduction and die soon after mating. Worker ants are sterile females who forage for food and perform routine colony maintenance as their primary responsibilities. Like other ant species, red harvester ants are divided into castes within their colonies. ![]()
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