Context
The red fire ant, one of the world’s most invasive species, has been recently found in Europe for the first time, according to a new study.
Relevance:
Facts for Prelims
Red Imported Fire Ants:
- Origin: Native to South America, red imported fire ants are a species of stinging ants.
- Scientific Name: Solenopsis invicta
- Characteristics:
- They are known for their aggressive behavior, painful stings, and large colony sizes.
- Reddish-brown to reddish-black in color, with a distinctive coppery head.
- Small ants, typically measuring between 1/8 to 1/4 inch (3-6 mm) in length.
- Segmented bodies with a distinct two-part thorax.
- Stinging Behavior: Infamous for their painful stings, they possess a potent venomous sting causing intense burning and itching sensations in humans.
- Colony Structure:
- Fire ant colonies are highly organized and structured.
- Consist of thousands to hundreds of thousands of ants.
- Unlike most ant species with a single queen, fire ant colonies are polygynous, having multiple reproductive queens.
