Fire Ants

Walter Tschinkel’s passion for fire ants has been stoked by over thirty years of exploring the rhythm and drama of Solenopsis invicta’s biology. Since South American fire ants arrived in Mobile, Alabama, in the 1940s, they have spread to become one of the most reviled pests in the Sunbelt. In The Fire Ants, Tschinkel provides not just an encyclopedic overview of S. invicta—how they found colonies, construct and defend their nests, forage and distribute food, struggle among themselves for primacy, and even relocate entire colonies—but a lively account of how research is done, how science establishes facts, and the pleasures and problems of a scientific career. Between chapters detailed enough for experts but readily accessible to any educated reader, “interludes” provide vivid verbal images of the world of fire ants and the people who study them. Early chapters describe the several failed, and heavily politically influenced, eradication campaigns, and later ones the remarkable spread of S. invicta’s “polygyne” form, in which nests harbor multiple queens and colonies reproduce by “budding.” The reader learns much about ants, the practice of science, and humans’ role in the fire ant’s North American success.

A literary triumph by one of Mexico's most promising young authors, Red Ants is the first ever literary translation from the Sierra Zapotec. This vibrant collection of short stories by Pergentino José updates magical realism for the 21st century. Red Ants paints a candid picture of indigenous Mexican life -- an essential counterpoint to cultural products of the colonial gaze. José's fantastical stories tackle themes of family, love, and independence in his signature style: unapologetically personal, coolly emotional, and always surprising.

Beware of their bite! Equipped to harm plants, animals, and people, fire ants are aggressive. Victims will tell you their bite stings and leaves a noticeable mark. Anything that disturbs a fire antÕs mound will be attacked. Learn all about these busy workers in this interesting title for young students.

Sometime in the first half of the twentieth century, a coterie of fire ants came ashore from South American ships docked in Mobile, Alabama. Fanning out across the region, the fire ants invaded the South, damaging crops, harassing game animals, and hindering harvesting methods. Responding to a collective call from southerners to eliminate these invasive pests, the U.S. Department of Agriculture developed a campaign that not only failed to eradicate the fire ants but left a wake of dead wildlife, sickened cattle, and public protest. With political intrigue, environmental tragedy, and such figures as Rachel Carson and E. O. Wilson, The Fire Ant Wars is a grippingly perceptive tale of changing social attitudes and scientific practices. Tracing the political and scientific eradication campaigns, Joshua Buhs's bracing study uses the saga as a means to consider twentieth-century American concepts of nature and environmental stewardship. In telling the story, Buhs explores how human concepts of nature evolve and how these ideas affect the natural and social worlds. Spotlighting a particular issue to discuss larger questions of science, public perceptions, and public policy—from pre-environmental awareness to the activist years of the early environmental movement—The Fire Ant Wars will appeal to historians of science, environmentalists, and biologists alike.

In the early years of the twentieth century, South American fire ants crossed the Caribbean and invaded the shores of the southeastern United States. These imported fire ants quickly found a niche in Gulf Coast fields and lawns, overpowered the native species, and began spreading. In the process they became a notorious pest to some, a beneficial ally to others, and a potential killer to allergy sufferers. As a result, they are among the most intensely studied insects in the world. Near the turn of the millennium the dominant species, the red imported fire ant, finally made its long-feared leap across the hostile western desert into the greener oasis of southern California, where it stood poised to infest the richest agricultural region in the country.In this authoritative book, five economically important species take center stage. These are the red imported fire ant, the black imported fire ant, the tropical fire ant, the southern fire ant, and the golden fire ant. A general introduction and a history of their invasion of North America open the door to additional chapters on natural history, origin and evolution, animals that share the fire ants' nest, the mixed successes of chemical control, and natural enemies and the hopes for biocontrol. Also examined are the pros and cons of fire ants, their medical importance, and suggestions for future research. The appendices list all known fire ant species and explain how to prepare, preserve, and identify every known species occurring in the United States.Well written and enhanced by an extensive glossary, a thorough bibliography of scientific literature, and more than one hundred photos, maps, and drawings, Fire Ants engages and informs both nonprofessionals and specialists.

Examines how red fire ants invade and affect their habitats and what you can do to avoid them.--

The 1985 Research Conference on Fire Ants and Leaf-Cutting Ants covered the most recent developments in research and control of these insect pests of the New World tropical and subtropical zones, the southern United States, South and Central America, and the Caribbean Islands. This volume contains chapters that discuss the history and economics, biology and ecology, behavior, pheromones and other semiochemicals, physiology, and biochemistry of fire ants and leaf-cutting ants, as well as current and future control strategies. The information provided illustrates past and present agricultural and medical problems associated with these pest ants; however, it also brings out the point that they may at times be beneficial. The chapters on basic aspects of the biology and ecology of the ants provide up-to-date information that is useful for a more complete understanding of their social behavior and the unique symbiotic relationship between leaf-cutting ants and their fungi. New approaches to control are illustrated by innovative research on anti-feedant chemicals from plants that prevent feeding by leaf-cutting ants. The present status of chemical baits and biocontrol is addressed, as well as the possibilities of future novel methods based on the use of anti-metabolites, insect hormones, behavior modifying substances, and species-specific toxic bait systems to create integrated pest management systems.

At one time, there were no red imported fire ants in the United States. In the 1930s, the insects got into the country by accident. The ants soon spread rapidly all over the South. Today, the aggressive fire ants roam fields and lawns, looking for food and biting and stinging any animal or person who disturbs them. In Red Imported Fire Ants: Attacking Everything, students will learn all about these dangerous insects. The fascinating details describe how the fire ants attack and kill small animals for food, how they destroy millions of dollars worth of crops every year, and how they've even caused car accidents by destroying traffic lights! Large color photos, maps, and fact boxes enrich the dramatic details. Written in narrative format, this series is sure to keep young readers engaged.