Flooding increases volume of venom sac in Solenopsis invicta (hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-28-2011

Abstract

Red imported fire ants are an alien invasive species that invaded North America from the Pantenal area of South America. These polymorphic ants are able to raft when their colony is flooded, thus allowing Solenopsis invicta to survive this change in environment. Flooded fire ants have been shown to increase defensiveness; they deliver higher doses of venom than non-flooded ants. We tested the hypothesis that changes in venom sac volume in flooded ants may explain increased defenses. Because fire ants are polymorphic, we examined head width and stinger length and associated them with length and width of the venom sac. Flooded ants were compared to a cohort of non-flooded ants to determine if flooded conditions resulted in increased size and therefore the volume of the venom sac. Random samples of workers from three colonies were taken before and during flooding at one hour and twenty-four hours. With flooding, S. invicta exhibited increased volume of venom sac, which may account for increase venom per sting during flooding.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Sociobiology

First Page

301

Last Page

308

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