Post on 25-Feb-2016
description
Fire Ant Biology:Life in the Mound
Compiled by Fudd Graham and Vicky BertagnolliAdapted from:Vinson, S. B. 1997. Invasion of the red imported fire ant. Amer. Entomol. 43: 23-42.
1The fire ant has 4 life stages
Egg Larvae Pupa Adult
2The circle above highlights eggs found in the brood chamber of a mound. Eggs usually take 7-10
days to hatch.
3Larvae molt four times over a
12-15 day period. The first three instars are fed regurgitated
liquid food.
1st instar 2nd instar
3rd instar 4th instar
4The fourth instar is the
only stage of fire ant able to feed on and digest
solid food. The food is placed in a food basket just beneath the mouth
(black arrow).
5Larval instars that will develop
into different size workers.
6Pupae that will develop into
different size workers. Pupae take 9-16 days to develop.
Reproductive
Worker
7Pupae usually turn darker as they mature. Newly emerged adults are light in color and
referred to as callows.
Queen
Reproductives
Workers
8Mature colonies consist of a range of workers made up basically of two castes, a few majors and a large number of minors. Reproductives are produced during mating season. During the summer minors live 60-90 days, majors 90-150 days. Queens can live up to seven
years.
Lateral foraging tunnelExit / Entrance
Lateral foraging tunnel
Deep Tunnels
Solar Radiation
InterconnectedChambers
Ants move the brood within the mound in response to changes in the ideal environmental conditions influenced by solar radiation