Black imported fire ant
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| Black imported fire ant | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Secure
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| Solenopsis richteri Buren, 1972 |
Long thought to either be a Subspecies or color variation of Solenopsis invicta, the black imported fire ant (Solenopsis richteri) is now recognized as its own species with a demonstratively different range and living habits. The black imported fire ant seems to be less tolerant of cold and less of a dominant species, and its northern and southern ranges are much less extensive. Black fire ant bites will swell slightly with a small to medium white knot and a large red area around the white spot, 2-4 inches wide, and is very painful. It will start to swell within 35 seconds of being bitten. The venom is roughly the equivalent of a wasp sting. The bite is less painful than the venom, but an encounter with the black fire ant will not be forgotten.
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