This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Seasonal Dynamics of Red Imported Fire Ant (Solenopsis invicta) Colony Structures Across Camellia oleifera Plantations and Fishponds in South China
by
, , , ,
Yuling Liang
1,†,
Jingxin Hong
1,†,
Yunbo Song
1,
Kuo Yue
1,
Meng Chen
1,
Jiarui Wu
1,
Yangting Ou
1,
Mingrong Liang
2,* and
Yongyue Lu
1,* 1
Red Imported Fire Ant Research Center, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
2
Insect Biodiversity and Biogeography Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Animals 2025, 15(10), 1483; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15101483
Submission received: 7 April 2025
/
Revised: 10 May 2025
/
Accepted: 15 May 2025
/
Published: 20 May 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Ecology and Conservation)
Simple Summary
The red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta, RIFA) is an aggressive and invasive insect that poses ecological and economic threats in many parts of the world. Understanding how these ants behave in different environments and seasons is important for controlling their spread. In this study, we examined the colony structure of RIFA in two common habitats in South China—Camellia oleifera plantations and fishponds—over the course of one year. We found that the number of worker ants peaked in winter, while reproductive ants (such as queens and winged males and females) appeared mostly in spring and early summer. Colonies in C. oleifera plantations were larger and had heavier workers, while fishpond colonies had more larvae and male ants. Environmental factors like air pressure, temperature, and rainfall influenced ant development in different ways depending on the habitat. These findings help explain how RIFA adapts to its environment and may assist in developing better ways to monitor and manage this invasive species.
Abstract
The red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta, RIFA) is a globally invasive species with strong sensitivity to environmental conditions. This study investigated the seasonal dynamics and colony structure of RIFA over the course of one year across two typical habitats in South China: Camellia oleifera plantations and fishponds. The results revealed clear seasonal patterns in caste composition. Worker abundance peaked during winter (December–January), while reproductive individuals (queens, males, and alates) emerged primarily in spring and early summer (March–May). Colony biomass, worker number, and individual dry weight were significantly higher in C. oleifera plantations, whereas fishpond habitats exhibited greater numbers of larvae and male alates, suggesting different reproductive allocation strategies across habitats. An analysis of caste composition indicated that adult workers were dominant in both habitats, but the proportion of pupae was notably higher in fishpond colonies, especially in spring. Significant correlations were found between colony metrics and nest characteristics, including a negative relationship between worker body length and colony biomass. Environmental factor analysis showed that air pressure positively influenced worker numbers, while temperature was negatively associated with them. Precipitation and humidity played key roles in regulating larval and pupal populations. Overall, RIFA exhibited strong seasonal patterns and ecological plasticity in response to habitat differences and environmental variables. These findings provide insights into the species’ invasion biology and inform habitat-specific monitoring and management strategies.
