fire ant

fire ant

any of several species in the genus Solenopsis the bite of which causes a fiery, burning sensation and sometimes severe allergic reactions.
See also: solenopsin A.

fire ant

n.

Any of various ants of the genus Solenopsis that build large mounds and can inflict a painful sting, especially S. invicta, native to South America and naturalized in the southern United States.

Any of a family of omnivorous nonwinged stinging hymenopteran arthropods that attack people, livestock, crops, electric insulation, etc., of which there are 280+ species world-wide; fire ants inject venom, causing intense (’fire-like’) burning and pruritus, due to necrotoxin or solenamine; reactions range from a wheal-and-flare response, to sterile pustules within 24 hours to severe chest pain, nausea, severe sweating, dyspnoea, oedema, or slurred speech, to anaphylaxis-related death
Management Avoid if possible; prompt topical steroids, antihistamines, epinephrine—Epipen, repeat if needed
Environmental management—fighting fire (ant) with fire Phoridae is a family of small, hump-backed flies, some species of which—e.g., Pseudacteon tricuspis and Pseudacteon curvatus—parasitise the red fire ant in its native South America. It is being introduced in Arkansas and Texas and appears to be successful in controlling the ants

fire ant

Medical entomology A nonwinged hymenopteran arthropod which is omnivorous, attacking livestock, crops, electric insulation; the FA injects a venom, causing intense burning and pruritus, due to necrotoxin or solenamine; reactions range from a wheal-and-flare response, a sterile pustule within 24 hrs to anaphylaxis-related death

fire ant

(fīr ant)

Any of several species in the genus Solenopsis the bite of which causes a fiery burning sensation and sometimes severe allergic reactions.