Solenopsis amblychila

Wheeler, 1915

Solenopsis amblychila is a native North American fire in the Solenopsis, first described by Wheeler in 1915. It is restricted to the southwestern United States and is distinguished from other fire ants by its pale golden-yellow coloration. The species is notable for its ability to persist in arid environments, though it also occupies irrigated . exhibit with distinct major and minor worker .

Solenopsis amblychila by (c) Jake Nitta, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jake Nitta. Used under a CC-BY license.

Solenopsis amblychila by (c) Jonghyun Park, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jonghyun Park. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Solenopsis amblychila: //ˌsoʊlɪˈnɒpsɪs ˌæmblɪˈkaɪlə//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Distinguished from other Solenopsis by its pale golden-yellow coloration. Most commonly confused with Solenopsis aurea, which shares similar golden coloration; accurate identification requires examination of morphological characters beyond color alone. The polymorphic (presence of both major and minor workers) is a useful diagnostic feature for the , though not unique to this species.

Images

Appearance

are pale golden to yellow in coloration. The exhibits , with colonies containing both major workers (larger, with disproportionately large ) and minor workers (smaller, more gracile).

Habitat

Occurs in arid and semi-arid environments, including very dry conditions. Also found in well-watered lawns and irrigated areas. Nests in soil, under rocks, or beneath pieces of wood.

Distribution

Native to the southwestern United States.

Life Cycle

Colonies contain polymorphic with both major and minor . No further details on stages are documented in available sources.

Similar Taxa

Solenopsis aureaShares similar golden coloration, leading to frequent misidentification
Solenopsis invictaConvergent general body plan and polymorphic , though S. invicta is reddish-brown to dark rather than golden-yellow

More Details

Nomenclature

Authored by Wheeler, 1915. The specific epithet 'amblychila' derives from Greek roots, with 'amblys' meaning blunt or obtuse and 'cheilos' meaning lip, likely referring to a morphological feature of the or .