Southern fire ant

Key to Identifying Common Household Ants

Southern fire ant—Solenopsis xyloni Subfamily: Myrmicinae

	Identifying characteristics Worker ants are polymorphic; vary in size from 1/8-inch long to more than 1/4-inch long Large eyes Amber-colored head and thorax with a mostly black abdomen; body covered with golden hairs Petiole with 2 nodes; no spines on thorax; 2 teeth on the front of head 10-segmented antennae with a 2-segmented club Flattened nests
Behavior Feed on insects, sweet foods, grease, proteins, seeds, almonds, young tree bark, and honeydew Active in the morning and early evening and do not trail May swarm out of nests if disturbed and can inflict painful stings	Nest type and size Nest in small mounds or in patches of loose soil near moisture Flattened, irregular craters with one to many openings; located usually in warm, sunny areas May be found in wood or under rocks and boards Indoors, nest in wall voids, crawl spaces, and under carpets Colonies very large with up to 10,000 individuals and multiple queens Quick Management Tips

Statewide IPM Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California
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