Solenopsis amblychila

Wheeler, 1915

Solenopsis amblychila is a North 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- coloration. The species is notable for its ability to persist in arid environments, though it also occupies irrigated . exhibit with distinct major and .

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//

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Identification

Distinguished from other Solenopsis by its pale golden- 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 ) is a useful diagnostic feature for the , though not unique to this species.

Images

Appearance

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

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- to dark rather than golden-

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 .