Bug FAQTropical Fire Ant
Solenopsis geminata · Order: Hymenoptera · Family: Formicidae
Also called: Fire ant, tropical imported fire ant
Source: Wikipedia
Workers are 2 to 6 mm long, blackish to reddish, with a copper-brown head and thorax and a darker abdomen. They build large mounds in open areas and feed on young plants, insects and seeds, sometimes killing small lizards. When disturbed they bite to grip and then sting, injecting solenopsin, a toxic alkaloid that can cause severe pain and, in sensitive people, life-threatening reactions.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
They have a two-node pedicel, an unarmed propodeum, and antennae with ten segments ending in a two-segmented club.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Workers range from 2 mm to 6 mm (0.079 to 0.236 in) in length.
Source: Wikipedia
Does it bite or sting?
They bite only to hold on, then sting from the abdomen, injecting solenopsin, a toxic alkaloid. The sting feels like a burn and can be deadly to people who are sensitive to the venom.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
Colonies make large mounds in open ground.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
They eat young plants, insects and seeds, and can kill small lizards.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 15 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Florida, Texas, Hawaii, Kansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, California, New Mexico.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
How can I identify tropical fire ants?
Look for 2 to 6 mm workers that are blackish to reddish, with a copper-brown head and thorax, a darker abdomen, a two-node pedicel, an unarmed propodeum, and antennae with ten segments ending in a two-segmented club.
Source: Wikipedia
What do tropical fire ants eat?
They feed on young plants, insects, seeds, and may kill small lizards.
Source: Wikipedia
How big are tropical fire ant workers?
Workers measure between 2 mm and 6 mm (0.079 to 0.236 in) long.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Formicidae)
Eastern Black Carpenter AntCamponotus pennsylvanicusCan damage your home
Red Imported Fire AntSolenopsis invictaCan sting
American Winter AntPrenolepis imparis
Argentine AntLinepithema humileNuisance, not dangerous
Immigrant Pavement AntTetramorium immigransCan sting
Odorous House AntTapinoma sessileCan damage your homeSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_ant
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-22 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.