Public-health-threat

Guides

• Solenopsis invicta

  Red Imported Fire Ant, RIFA

  Solenopsis invicta is a highly invasive ant species native to South America that has spread to multiple continents, causing significant ecological and economic damage. It forms large, aggressive colonies that dominate disturbed habitats and displace native ant species through competition and predation. The species exhibits flexible colony reproduction through both nuptial flights and colony budding, with some populations containing multiple queens. Its painful sting and tendency to swarm when disturbed make it a serious public health and agricultural pest.

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