Continued Bio

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Organism Profile: Red Imported Fire Ant (RIFA)

Abstract

Solenopsis invicta,commonly known as the Red imported fire ant is a species of ant

native to South America.Like many other insects,its body is segmented into head, thorax and

abdomen.It is characterised by a reddish brown colour with dark abdomen,an uneven thorax

and three teeth.It has a life cycle that begins with egg,which hatches to larva.Larva becomes

pupa which eventually becomes an adult ant in 20-25 days.It has two mandibles used for

cutting, biting, digging and carrying materials.Generally, the queens live longer than the

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workers.Red imported fire ant has spread to infest over 260 million acres since its accidental

importation from South America to Mobile, Alabama over 60 years ago.These insects are

hard to eradicate due to their quick reproduction,They have a negative effect to ecology as

they destroy farmers’ crops.(Anna Thanukos,2015).

Introduction

Regarded as one of the most invasive insect,Solenopsis invicta commonly known as

the Red imported fire ant is believed to have arrived in the seaport of Mobile,Alabama by

cargo between 1933 and 1945.It was initially found in the South American

deserts.However,since its importation to Alabama,it has spread to many of the southern

United States including Florida,Georgia,Mississipi,Arkansas,South & north

Carolina,Texas,Lonisiana,Tennessee,New mexico,Oklahoma and Colifornia.This species also

occurs in other contries such Australia,Caribbean and in south eastern China states such as

Guangdong,Guangxi,Fujian,Macau,Taiwan and Hongkong.(Ward,2009)

Background

The Solenopsis invicta is reddish brown in color,with a dark abdomen and has six

clawed legs.It is usually 4-24 mm tall ,⅛- ¼ inches long and 9 mm wide .Like many other

insects,its body is segmented into head, thorax and abdomen.The abdomen contains the

heart,venom and the digestive system.(Karthy,2014).Its two mandibles are useful in

cutting,biting,digging and carrying of materials.Its thorax is usually uneven.Its also

characterised by three teeth,large eyes,ten antennal segments with two segment clubs and has

no wings.The queens are usually larger than the workers.These insects are very aggresive and

have a very quick reproduction.(Durham,2008).

Life cycle

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Mating usually happens during the nuptial flight period,mostly during the warmer

seasons of the year.During this period, the queens release pheromones which attract the

males.One queen may mate with several males.After mating, the sperm is stored in the

apermatheca inside the queens abdomen where it can last throughout her lifetime fertilizing

tens of millions of eggs.The queen lays dozens of eggs which hatch into larvae within 10

days.The larvae turn into pupae which then turn into full grown adults.The cycle takes 20-25

days to complete.((Kathy Flanders,2014).

Structure and function

Of high interest is the nervous system of the Red imported fire ant.These insects have

ten segmented antennae which are very sentive.They are able to produce a series of

semiochemicals and pheromones which are only specific to them among all other ant

species.It is through these pheromones that the red imported fire ant smell,taste and

communicate with one another.(Ward,2009)

Evolution

The Red imported fire ants have the following

classification;Animalia(Kingdom),Insecta(Class),Fomicidae(Family),Solenopsis(Genus) and

Solenopsis invicta(Species).They have shown a simple genetic with very complex

behaviors.Their DNA has a GP-9 code for ador-binding protein which enables the insect to

detect different odors.This code has two versions,B and b which can form different

combinations(genotypes) to determine which queen is allowed in a colony.A colony with a

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worker having Bb genotype accepts a queen with Bb genotype and kills the queen with BB

genotype.A worker with BB genotype will kill a queen with Bb genotype and accept the one

with BB.Queens with bb genotypes are very weak and die early.Queens with BB rule alone

while those with Bb share powers.(Annah Thanukos,2015).

Additional Interest

It is of major concern how this ant species can easily evolve and reproduce.They are

able to build a dense colony and kill any other competing species.Their ability to have

multiple queen colonies is seen as a threat to other ant species and insects.Their invasion into

an area can alter the population of many fly and beetle families.They also have high

resistance to many insecticides.(Anna Thanukos,2007).

Conclusion

The Solenopsis invicta, also known as the Red imported fire ant is commonly found in

many regions in south America and South earstern China.It has a life cycle common to many

insects.Its ability to multiply fast and adapt to many climatic conditions has aided its invasion

to many parts of the world.It can be considered a threat to other insects due to its ability to kill

competing species.

REFERENCES

1) Durham, 2008. Nine to 20 individual Fire ant queens started U.S. fire ant

population. USDA-

ARS press release.

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2) Ward D., 2009. The potential distribution of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis

invicta

Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

3) Anna Thanukos, 2015. Understanding Evolution. Fire ants invade and evolve.

4) Kathy Flanders, 2014. History of Red Imported Fire Ant. Texas Imported Fire Ant

Research and Management Project.

5) Vinson SB. 2007. Invasion of the red imported fire ant. (Hymenoptera:

Formicidae):

Spread, biology, and Impact. American Entomologist, 43(1):pp.23-39