Species Solenopsis invicta - Red Imported Fire Ant

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Morrison, L.W. 2002. Long-term effects of the invasion of an arthropod community by the imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta. Ecology, 83(8): 2337-2345.

Abstract

Invasive ant species represent a serious threat to the integrity of many ecological communities, often causing decreases in the abundance and species richness of both native ants and other arthropods. One of the most in-depth and well-known studies of this type documented a severe impact of the imported red fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, on the native ant and arthropod fauna of a biological field reserve in central Texas (USA) during the initial invasion in the late 1980s. I sampled the community again in 1999, 12 years later, utilizing the same methodology, to compare the short- and long-term impacts of this invasion. Pitfall traps and baits were used to obtain quantitative measures of the ant and arthropod community, and hand collecting was additionally employed to determine the overall ant species composition. Although the abundance and species richness of native ants and several other arthropod groups decreased precipitously immediately after the S. invicta invasion, all measures of native ant and arthropod species diversity had returned to preinvasion levels after 12 years. Solenopsis invicta was still the most abundant ant species, but not nearly as abundant as it was during the initial phase of the invasion. The results of this study indicate that the impact of such invasive ants may be greatest during and shortly after the initial phase of an invasion.

Porter, S.D., A. Bhatkar, R. Mulder, S.B. Vinson, and D. Clair. 1991. Distribution and density of polygyne fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Texas. Journal of Economic Entomology 84(3): 866-874.

Abstract

Multiple-queen or "polygyne" Solenopsis invicta Buren colonies are a serious economic and environmental concern because they occur in much higher densities than the monogyne form. Polygyne colonies have been found at numerous locations in the United States; nevertheless, the frequency and distribution of this form are poorly known. Almost 700 roadside sites in 168 Texas counties were surveyed.

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Porter, S.D. and D. Savignano. 1990. An invasion of polygyne fire ants decimates native ants and disrupts arthropod community. Ecology 71(6): 2095-2106.

Abstract

The fire ant Solenopsis invicta Buren invaded southeastern United States from South America >50 yr ago. Urban and agricultural consequences of this invasion are well documented; however, ecological effects are still poorly understood. Increasing frequencies of polygyne or multiple—queen fire ants in Texas and other areas of the Southeast are disturbing because nest densities of this new form are often ten times as great as those of the more familiar monogyne form. We studied the ecological impacts of a polygyne fire ant invasion on ants and other surface—active arthropods at a field station in central Texas. Arthropod abundance and species richness were assessed using a combination of baits, pitfall traps, and litter samples.

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Wheeler, W.M. 1908. The ants of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. (Part I.), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 24(21): 399-485.

Although the ant-fauna of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona comprises a greater number of species than that of the whole remaining portion of America north of Mexico, it has never been made the subject of systematic investigation. In the following study I have brought together the scattered and rather meager materials published by previous authors and have added several new forms, especially of Pheidole, a cosmopolitan genus represented by a great number of species in tropical and subtropical America. A residence of four years (1899-1903) in central Texas, several excursions to the Trans Pecos deserts of that State, and a journey through New Mexico and Arizona during the spring of 1905, have enabled me not only to secure the large series of specimens now deposited in the American Museum of Natural History, but also to observe the living ants in their natural environment. This, as every myrmecologist knows, is often of the greatest importance in determining the status of species, subspecies and varieties.