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II. a. Imported Fire Ant Introduction and Biology

II. a. Imported Fire Ant Introduction and Biology. Teaching Module for Advanced Master Gardener Training. Where are imported fire ants from? Where are they found in the US?. Need new map. 1918: estimated introductions occurred of black imported fire ant ( Solenopsis richteri )

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II. a. Imported Fire Ant Introduction and Biology

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  1. II. a. Imported Fire AntIntroduction and Biology Teaching Module for Advanced Master Gardener Training

  2. Where are imported fire ants from? Where are they found in the US? Need new map

  3. 1918: estimated introductions occurred of black imported fire ant (Solenopsis richteri) First introduced in Mobile, Alabama Red imported fire ant (S. invicta) followed in the early 1930’s The two species have hybridized Imported fire ants currently infest 330 million acres in the U.S. No natural enemies native to U.S. History of Imported Fire Ants

  4. History • IFA are the most destructive and costly ants in the U.S. • IFA thrive in disturbed habitats, natural or man-made disturbances • IFA continue to expand in the U.S. and their final range has yet to be reached

  5. Identification • Habitat – found in open, sunny areas • Mounds – large, no activity on surface • Ants – very aggressive when disturbed • Stings – painful, leave white pustule, sting more than once

  6. Pustules Bite and Sting Sting and Poison Gland

  7. Types of Adult Fire Ants Winged female Winged male Workers UC Statewide IPM Program

  8. Polymorphism in Worker Ants major queen media minor Adult fire ant workers have different morphs (polymorphic), i.e. major, media and minor, which greatly vary in body size. Majors are often used in identification because of their large size. Not all ant species exhibit polymorphism.

  9. Fire Ant Anatomy – Major Body Parts AL AL= alitrunkAN= antennaCE= compound eyeG= gasterH= headM= mandibleMT= mesothoraxP= petiolePP= post-petiolePR= propodeumPT= prothoraxS= stingT= teeth (mandibular) PR PP H MT PT G AN S CE P M T Solenopsis

  10. Solenopsis invicta BurenImported Fire Ant Anatomy USDA • Reddish to brown in color • Large eyes • Workers are polymorphic (1/6 – 1/5 in. long) • Waist with 2 nodes • No spine on propodeum • 10 antennal segments • 2-segmented antennal club • Brown gaster with stinger • Extremely aggressive Photos by AntWeb

  11. Red Imported Fire Ant April Noble, Antweb.org Comparing RIFA to a Carpenter Ant Common Black Carpenter Ant Alex Wild 2003

  12. Relative Size of Ant Workers of Various Species Texas Imported Fire Ant Research & Management Plan

  13. Mating and Dispersal • Mating flights occur on sunny days within 24 hours of rain, when temperatures are above 75ºF. • Flights usually occur in spring and fall, but may occur after any rainfall.

  14. Mating and Dispersal • Mating takes place 300 to 800 feet above the ground. • After mating, females seek moist or reflective surfaces on which to land; male dies. • Female is vulnerable to predators during and just after mating flight, especially to other fire ants.

  15. Colony Development • New colonies are founded by newly mated females (queens) • Once a queen lands, she removes her wings, burrows into the soil, and begins to lay eggs.

  16. Colony Development • The first batch of eggs grow up to be worker ants • Takes 20 – 45 days for adult maturity • Worker ants are all sterile females capable of stinging • Workers begin foraging and constructing the mound

  17. A Queen’s Life EGG • After the first batch of workers is grown, the queen will always be tended by her workers. • The queen can live 5-7 years and can lay eggs equal to her own body weight each day.

  18. Mound Development • Mounds often not visible the first few months • Within six months a small mound becomes visible • May have 100,000 ants present

  19. Mound Development • Mature mounds may be quite large - Distinctive trait • Mature colonies may contain 200,000 to 400,000 worker ants - Polymorphic colony population

  20. Lateral foraging tunnel Exit / Entrance Interconnected Chambers Lateral foraging tunnel Deep tunnels to water source Mound Structure

  21. If the mound is disturbed… Workers rush to save the queen and the immature ants

  22. Colony Life • Workers move the young fire ants and the queen around the nest • Often move more than once per day • Maintains near constant temperature and humidity

  23. Fire Ant Life Stages Egg • Complete metamorphosis • 4 life stages Pupa Adult Larvae

  24. Eggs found in brood chamber of a mound • Eggs usually take 7-10 days to hatch

  25. Larval Instars • Larvae molt four times over 12-15 day period • First three instars fed regurgitated liquid food

  26. Black arrows point to a piece of solid food in the food basket below the mouth Fourth instars are the only stage that can feed on solid food

  27. Fire Ant Diet Fire ants eat a variety of foods Pollet, LSU AgCenter and are excellent foragers

  28. What do fire ants eat? • Mostly other insects (predators) • Tend aphids and scale insects for honeydew • Plants and seeds that produce oils • Fire ant workers DO NOT eat solid food • Feed by trophallaxis

  29. Trophallaxis • Foraging ants bring food back to the nest. • Ants pass the food one to the other by regurgitating it from their crops. • Adults pass liquid food around. • Adults cannot digest solid food. • Food is distributed to all members of the colony, including the queen.

  30. Fire Ant Development • Large workers live about 90-180+ days as adults • Medium workers live about 60-90 days as adults • Small workers live about 30-60 days as adults • Regardless of size, they change jobs as they age - nurse - guard/excavator - forager Worker immature and mature stages

  31. Development of Castes Worker immature and mature stages • Pattern of development similar for worker and reproductive stages • Males develop from unfertilized eggs • Female reproductives get special food and hormones Egg Queen Reproductive immature and mature stages

  32. Two Types of Colonies • Single queen (monogyne) - territorial and aggressive - limited life span of the colony • Multiple queens (polygyne) - not territorial or aggressive toward each other - will adopt new queens - long-lived colonies

  33. Monogyne Queen Colony • 15-80 mounds per acre • Up to 7 million ants/acre • One queen per colony • Worker ants are territorial • Found in all southeastern states in the U.S.

  34. Polygyne Queen Colony • 200-800 mounds per acre • Up to 14 million ants per acre • More than one queen in each colony • Colonies reproduce by budding • Worker ants are not territorial • Predominant form in Texas

  35. For More Information:http://www.extension.org/fire+ants Publications, slide sets, streaming video, posters, and more…

  36. Acknowledgments Thanks to the Texas Imported Fire Ant Research & Management Plan, Texas A&M University System, for the use of many of the images seen in this presentation. Portions of this presentation were made possible by a grant from the Southern Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Professional Development Program. Authors: • Kerry Smith – Alabama Cooperative Extension System • Molly Keck – Texas AgriLife Extension Service • Bart Drees – Texas AgriLife Extension Service • David Williams – University of Florida • Ken and Rufina Ward, Alabama A&M University

  37. Acknowledgments Reviewers: • Dale Pollet – Louisiana State University AgCenter • Karen Vail, University of Tennessee • Chazz Hesselein, Alabama Cooperative Extension System • Kathy Flanders, Alabama Cooperative Extension System Editor, Technical Facilitator: - Neal Lee

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