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One of these problematic species is called the black fire ant or black imported fire ant. Learn how to identify this species so you know what to do when they start building mounds in...
The black imported fire ant (Solenopsis richteri), or simply BIFA, is a species of ant in the genus Solenopsis (fire ants). It was long thought to either be a subspecies or a color variation of Solenopsis invicta (the red imported fire ant, or simply RIFA), but is now recognized as its own species with a demonstratively different range and ...
Fire ants are several species of ants in the genus Solenopsis, which includes over 200 species. Solenopsis are stinging ants, and most of their common names reflect this, for example, ginger ants and tropical fire ants.
Black imported fire ants (BIFA) are nearly identical in habits to red imported fire ants (RIFA). The easiest way to distinguish BIFA from RIFA is coloration. BIFA are dark brown to black whereas RIFA are predominately red with a black abdomen.
Accurate identification of fire ants can be especially important in the southwestern states, where native fire ant species are common and imported fire ants are rare. Although native fire ants are common urban pests, if they are controlled unnecessarily, especially in very dry climates, imported fire ants are more likely to invade new areas.
Fire ants can be identified by their dull red body coloration, which ranges from reddish brown to reddish black. Fire ants also have a stinger. Read more about anatomy here.
For example, the black imported fire ant is usually dark brown or black, and the Caribbean crazy ant is black with a yellowish-brown head. In summary, fire ants typically have a red and black coloration, although there is plenty of variation between species and colonies.
