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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps » Ants (Formicoidea) » Ants (Formicidae) » Myrmicinae » Myrmicini » Myrmica » European fire ant (Myrmica rubra)

Species Myrmica rubra - European fire ant

European fire ant - Myrmica rubra European fire ant - Myrmica rubra european fire ants on woolly alder aphids - Myrmica rubra - female ant - Myrmica rubra wingless queens and workers - Myrmica rubra - female European fire ant - Myrmica rubra European fire ants - Myrmica rubra - female Aphaenogaster - Myrmica rubra
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)
No Taxon (Aculeata - Ants, Bees and Stinging Wasps)
Superfamily Formicoidea (Ants)
Family Formicidae (Ants)
Subfamily Myrmicinae
Tribe Myrmicini
Genus Myrmica
Species rubra (European fire ant)
Other Common Names
red ant
Explanation of Names
Author: Linnaeus
Range
mainly in the northeastern United States and in Canada. Originally from Europe
Remarks
"A newcomer from Europe. Workers will attack "en masse" as soon as their nest is disturbed. Even a single worker will inflict a burning sting if stepped on. This nasty tempered ant has already been nicknamed "the Fire Ant of the North".
A wet weather doesn't keep them from foraging outside. Indeed, they prefer moist conditions and are rarely found very far from water bodies." Comment by Richard Vernier
First discovered in Massachusetts in 1908 by Wheeler [1908]
Internet References
University of Florida
academic.evergreen.edu
Contributed by tom murray on 22 April, 2006 - 7:38am
Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset
Last updated 11 December, 2010 - 4:32pm

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