Anterior view of clypeus, adult worker. The anterior margin of the clypeus has two distinct lateral teeth that straddle the midline, but is missing a distinct median tooth between them. Used in Antkey to separate Solenopsis geminata and Solenopsis xyloni from Solenopsis invicta and Solenopsis richteri. This is arguably the most useful character for separating these species, but it can be difficult to see in some specimens.
Lateral view of petiole, adult worker. The subpetiolar process is weak to absent, never as a well developed flange or lobe. If a process is present, it is located at the far anterior end of the petiole and maybe be difficult to see on most specimens. Used in Antkey to separate Solenopsis geminata from Solenopsis xyloni.
A fire ant displays "gaster-flagging", waving a volatile droplet of venom. Photo by ©Alexander L. Wild, alexanderwild.com
To sting, a fire ant first bites her target with her mandibles. The bite anchors her in place and provides leverage to insert the stinger. The bite itself is harmless, it is the subsequent sting that carries the venom and the pain. Photo by ©Alexander L. Wild, alexanderwild.com
A feisty little Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) attacks a much larger fire ant (Solenopsis invicta). Both species co-exist naturally in subtropical South America, but in the southern United States where both have been accidentally introduced, the fire ant has displaced the Argentine ant Photo by ©Alexander L. Wild, alexanderwild.com
Mounds of the red imported fire ant in Austin, Texas. Photo by ©Alexander L. Wild, alexanderwild.com
Anterior view of clypeus, adult worker. The anterior margin of the clypeus has a single median tooth on the midline and a pair of lateral teeth that straddle the midline. Used in Antkey to separate Solenopsis geminata and Solenopsis xyloni from Solenopsis invicta and Solenopsis richteri. This is arguably the most useful character for separating these species, but it can be difficult to see on some specimens.
Anterior view of clypeus, adult worker. The anterior margin of the clypeus has a single median tooth on the midline and a pair of lateral teeth that straddle the midline. Used in Antkey to separate Solenopsis invicta and Solenopsis richteri from Solenopsis geminataand Solenopsis xyloni. This is arguably the most useful character for separating these species, but it can be difficult to see on some specimens.
A fire ant native to southern and western North America. Photo by ©Alexander L. Wild, alexanderwild.com
A native fire ant harvests a grass seed. Fire ants are occasional granivores. Photo by ©Alexander L. Wild, alexanderwild.com
Anterior view of clypeus, adult worker. The anterior margin of the clypeus has a single median tooth on the midline and a pair of lateral teeth that straddle the midline. Used in Antkey to separate from Solenopsis geminata and Solenopsis xyloni from Solenopsis invicta and Solenopsis richteri. This is arguably the most useful character for separating these species, but it can be difficult to see on some specimens.
Lateral view of petiole, adult worker. Subpetiolar process well developed as a flange or lobe. Photo by Jen Fogarty, Antweb.org, modified.
Lateral view of petiole, adult worker. The subpetiolar process is well developed as a flange or lobe. The process is located at the far anterior end of the petiole and maybe be difficult to see on most specimens. Used in Antkey to separate Solenopsis xyloni from Solenopsis geminata.
Authors: Sarnat and Suarez
Migrated to idtools.org August 2025
Antkey archived on Scratchpad
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