Editing Red imported fire ant (section)

{{Short description|Invasive ant species}}
{{Redirect|RIFA|the former Swedish electronics manufacturer|RIFA AB}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2016}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Fire ants 01.jpg
| image_caption= A group of fire ant workers
| genus = Solenopsis (ant)
| species = invicta
| authority = Buren, 1972
| synonyms_ref =<ref>{{cite web |title=''Solenopsis invicta'' Buren |url=http://osuc.biosci.ohio-state.edu/hymDB/nomenclator.name_entry?text_entry=Solenopsis+invicta&Submit=Submit |last1=Johnson |first1=N.F. |date=19 December 2007 |work=Hymenoptera Name Server version 1.5 |publisher=[[Ohio State University]] |location=Columbus, Ohio, USA |access-date=1 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920213342/http://osuc.biosci.ohio-state.edu/hymDB/nomenclator.name_entry?text_entry=Solenopsis+invicta&Submit=Submit |archive-date=20 September 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| synonyms = 
*''Solenopsis saevissima wagneri'' <small>[[Felix Santschi|Santschi]], 1916</small>
}}

'''''Solenopsis invicta''''', the '''fire ant''', or '''red imported fire ant''' ('''RIFA'''), is a species of [[ant]] native to [[South America]]. A member of the genus ''[[Fire ant|Solenopsis]]'' in the subfamily [[Myrmicinae]], it was [[Species description|described]] by Swiss entomologist [[Felix Santschi]] as a variant of ''[[Solenopsis saevissima|S. saevissima]]'' in 1916. Its current [[species|specific]] name ''invicta'' was given to the ant in 1972 as a separate species. However, the variant and species were the same ant, and the name was preserved due to its wide use. Though South American in origin, the red imported fire ant has been accidentally introduced in [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]], several [[Asia]]n and [[Caribbean]] countries, [[Europe]] and the [[United States]]. The red imported fire ant is [[Polymorphism (biology)|polymorphic]], as workers appear in different shapes and sizes. The ant's colours are red and somewhat yellowish with a brown or black [[Gaster (insect anatomy)|gaster]], but males are completely black. Red imported fire ants are dominant in altered areas and live in a wide variety of habitats. They can be found in [[rainforest]]s, disturbed areas, [[desert]]s, [[grassland]]s, alongside [[road]]s and [[building]]s, and in electrical equipment. Colonies form large mounds constructed from soil with no visible entrances because foraging tunnels are built and workers emerge far away from the nest.

These ants exhibit a wide variety of behaviours, such as building rafts when they sense that [[water]] levels are rising. They also show [[Necrophoresis|necrophoric behaviour]], where nestmates discard scraps or dead ants on refuse piles outside the nest. Foraging takes place on warm or hot days, although they may remain outside at night. Workers communicate by a series of [[semiochemical]]s and [[pheromone]]s, which are used for recruitment, foraging, and defence. They are [[omnivore]]s and eat dead [[mammal]]s, [[arthropod]]s, [[insect]]s, [[seed]]s, and [[Sweetness|sweet]] substances such as [[Honeydew (secretion)|honeydew]] from [[hemiptera]]n insects with which they have developed [[Symbiosis|relationships]]. Predators include [[arachnid]]s, [[bird]]s, and many [[insect]]s including other [[ant]]s, [[Dragonfly|dragonflies]], [[earwig]]s, and [[beetle]]s. The ant is a host to [[Parasitism|parasites]] and to a number of [[pathogen]]s, [[nematode]]s, and [[virus]]es, which have been viewed as potential biological control agents. [[Nuptial flight]] occurs during the warm seasons, and the [[alate]]s may mate for as long as 30 minutes. Colony founding can be done by a single queen or a group of queens, which later contest for dominance once the first workers emerge. Workers can live for several months, while queens can live for years; colony numbers can vary from 100,000 to 250,000 individuals. Two forms of society in the red imported fire ant exist: polygynous colonies (nests with multiple queens) and monogynous colonies (nests with one queen).

[[Venom]] plays an important role in the ant's life, as it is used to capture prey or for defence.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last1=Fox|first1=Eduardo G.P.|last2=Wu|first2=Xiaoqing|last3=Wang|first3=Lei|last4=Chen|first4=Li|last5=Lu|first5=Yong-Yue|last6=Xu|first6=Yijuan|date=February 2019|title=Queen venom isosolenopsin A delivers rapid incapacitation of fire ant competitors|journal=Toxicon|volume=158|pages=77–83|doi=10.1016/j.toxicon.2018.11.428|pmid=30529381|bibcode=2019Txcn..158...77F |s2cid=54481057}}</ref> About 95% of the venom consists of water-insoluble [[piperidine alkaloids]] known as [[solenopsin]]s, with the rest comprising a mixture of toxic proteins that can be particularly potent in sensitive humans; the name [[fire ant]] is derived from the [[Combustion|burning]] sensation caused by their sting.<ref name="Greenberg_Kabashima_2014"/> More than 14&nbsp;million people are stung by them in the [[United States]] annually, where many are expected to develop allergies to the venom. Most victims experience intense burning and [[Allergy|swelling]], followed by the formation of sterile [[Cutaneous condition|pustules]], which may remain for several days. However, 0.6% to 6.0% of people may suffer from [[anaphylaxis]], which can be fatal if left untreated. Common symptoms include [[dizziness]], [[chest pain]], [[nausea]], severe [[Perspiration|sweating]], low [[blood]] pressure, loss of breath, and slurred [[speech]]. More than 80 deaths have been recorded from red imported fire ant attacks. Treatment depends on the symptoms; those who only experience pain and pustule formation require no medical attention, but those who suffer from anaphylaxis are given [[adrenaline]]. Whole body extract immunotherapy is used to treat victims and is regarded as highly effective.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Red Imported Fire Ant {{!}} National Invasive Species Information Center |url=https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/terrestrial/invertebrates/red-imported-fire-ant |access-date=2021-08-23 |website=www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov |language=en}}</ref>

The ant is viewed as a notorious pest, causing [[billion]]s of [[dollar]]s in damage annually and impacting wildlife. The ants thrive in urban areas, so their presence may deter outdoor activities. Nests can be built under structures such as pavements and foundations, which may cause structural problems, or cause them to collapse. Not only can they damage or destroy structures, but red imported fire ants also can damage equipment and infrastructure and impact business, land, and property values. In agriculture, they can damage crops and machinery, and threaten pastures. They are known to invade a wide variety of crops, and mounds built on farmland may prevent harvesting. They also pose a threat to animals and livestock, capable of inflicting serious injury or killing them, especially young, weak, or sick animals. Despite this, they may be beneficial because they consume common pest insects on crops. Common methods of controlling these ants include baiting and fumigation; other methods may be ineffective or dangerous. Due to its notoriety and importance, the ant has become one of the most studied insects on the planet, even rivalling the [[western honey bee]] (''Apis mellifera'').{{sfn|Tschinkel|2006|p=vii}}{{sfn|Taber|2000|p=12}}