Ants of Zihuatanejo

SOLENOPSIS FIRE ANTS & THIEF ANTS

• Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

• Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)

• Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)

• Insects (Class Insecta)

• Winged and Once-winged Insects (Subclass Pterygota)

• Ants, Bees, Wasps, and Sawflies (Order Hymenoptera)

• Narrow-waisted Wasps, Ants, and Bees (Suborder Apocrita)

• Ants, Bees, and Stinging Wasps (Infraorder Aculeata)

• Superfamily Formicoidea

• Ants (Family Formicidae)

• Myrmicine Ants (Subfamily Myrmicinae)

• Solenopsidin Ants (Tribe Solenopsidini)

• Solenopsis Fire Ants and Thief Ants (Genus Solenopsis)

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Genus Solenopsis, commonly known as fire ants, thief ants, and their relatives. Species range from tiny, inconspicuous ants that nest in soil and leaf litter to the notorious fire ants that form large colonies and possess painful, venomous stings. Workers are typically small to medium-sized and are highly adaptable, inhabiting grasslands, forests, wetlands, agricultural lands, and urban environments. Many species are omnivorous, feeding on seeds, insects, nectar, honeydew, and other organic materials, while some are important predators of small invertebrates.