Workers are polymorphic, roughly 2–6 mm.
Fine-art photographic collection
Solenopsis invicta
A flood-surviving fire ant that has become one of the world’s most consequential invasive insects.
About this species
Red imported fire ant
Solenopsis invictaBuren, 1972
Information reviewed15 July 2026
Solenopsis invicta is native to South America but has been introduced to several other regions. It forms large soil mounds, recruits rapidly and affects agriculture, wildlife and human health.
Taxonomy
Animalia · Arthropoda · Insecta · Hymenoptera · Formicidae · Solenopsis
Source checked · checked 2026-07-15
South America and introduced regions worldwideMap shows selected native and introduced regions; the global distribution continues to change.
Native to central South America; introduced in the southern United States, parts of the Caribbean, East Asia, Australia and elsewhere.
Open disturbed ground, pasture, lawns, roadsides and agricultural land.
Forages whenever soil temperatures are suitable and responds rapidly to disturbed food sources.
Omnivorous, taking insects, seeds, carrion, honeydew and human food.
Colonies may have one queen or many queens depending on social form; worker populations can be very large.
What makes this species remarkable?
During floods, workers link their bodies into floating rafts that protect the queen and brood.
The sting injects venom rich in alkaloids and can trigger serious allergic reactions.
Two social forms differ genetically and in queen number, colony boundaries and aggression.