The red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta), also known as the fire ant or RIFA, is a species of ant native to South America. A member of the genus Solenopsis in the subfamily Myrmicinae, it was described by Swiss entomologist Felix Santschi as a variant of S. saevissima in 1916. Its current specific name invicta … See more The specific epithet of the red imported fire ant, invicta, derives from Latin, and means "invincible" or "unconquered". The epithet originates from the phrase Roma invicta ("unconquered Rome"), used as an inspirational quote … See more Red imported fire ant workers range in size from small to medium, making them polymorphic. Workers measure between 2.4 and 6.0 mm … See more Red imported fire ants are native to the tropical areas of Central and South America, where they have an expansive geographical range … See more The toxicology of red imported fire ant venom has been relatively well studied. The venom is important to the ant, enabling it to capture its prey and to defend itself. Some 14 million … See more The red imported fire ant was first described by Swiss entomologist Felix Santschi in a 1916 journal article published by Physis. Originally named Solenopsis saevissima wagneri from a syntype worker collected from Santiago del Estero, Argentina, Santschi … See more Red imported fire ants are extremely resilient and have adapted to contend with both flooding and drought conditions. If the ants sense increased water levels in their nests, they link together and form a ball or raft that floats, with the workers on the outside and the … See more As pests Because of their notoriety and invasive behaviour, red imported fire ants are considered See more WebHabitat of a RIFA. You might say that red imported fire ants have extremely large families. They live in colonies with 100,000 to 500,000 members.
Formica rufa - Wikipedia
WebResearch and Extension. Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA), Solenopsis invicta Buren, are stinging insects that belong to the same order as bees and wasps. The RIFA now infests more than 325 million acres in the southern United States, where it has become a considerable agricultural pest and a significant health hazard. WebSep 2, 2009 · Polygyny in fire ants had two overt manifestations in field colonies: (1) workers from polygynous colonies were significantly smaller than those from … summer camp gilbert az
What is RIFA? Coachella Valley Mosquito & Vector Control District
WebThe fire ant worker is 1.6 to 6.0 mm in length, the minims being the smallest and the majors the largest. They vary in color from reddish brown to dark brown. Workers have 10 … WebThe red imported fire ant (RIFA) is an invasive species from Brazil and is known to be more aggressive than other species of ants. They are red-yellow in color with an extruded stinger — always at the ready for use. … WebFeb 1, 2006 · The red imported fire ant (RIFA, Solenopsis invicta), a notorious invasive insect, has received considerable attention owing to … palace industries public benefit corporation