Fire ant

Fire ants, belonging to the genus *Solenopsis*, are infamous for their painful stings and aggressive behavior. With over 200 species worldwide, they are often referred to as ginger ants, tropical fire ants, or red ants due to their light brown color. Distinguishing characteristics include a pedicel with two nodes, an unarmed propodeum, and antennae with 10 segments and a two-segmented club.

These ants pose more than just a nuisance; they construct large mounds, feed on young plants and seeds, and can even attack small animals. Their behavior is notably complex, including forming mutualistic relationships with certain butterfly species.

Fire ants are extraordinarily resilient, capable of surviving extreme conditions like floods. A colony is typically founded by a queen, who can live up to seven years and lay as many as 1,600 eggs per day. Males mate with queens during nuptial flights and then die. Worker ants, which vary in size, manage various tasks within the colony.

One particularly problematic species is *Solenopsis invicta*, known as the red imported fire ant. This invasive species causes significant economic and ecological harm in areas where it spreads.

The venom of fire ants contains alkaloids that induce painful stings, swelling, and sometimes severe allergic reactions. Treatments range from basic first aid and topical applications to oral medications and emergency medical intervention in severe cases.

Predators like phorid flies and carnivorous plants such as the Venus flytrap help regulate fire ant populations. Natural enemies and entomopathogenic fungi also play a role in controlling these ants.

While there are over 200 species in the genus *Solenopsis*, only a subset, known as "true" fire ants, are aggressive stingers. These true fire ants are larger and more aggressive than their *Solenopsis* relatives.