Among the most damaging pest ant species is Solenopsis invicta, a fire ant native to South America.  This species has been accidentally imported to the southern United States, eastern Australia, China, and elsewhere.  Here a worker fire ant is shown in stereotypical defensive posture, her sting extruded, waving a droplet of venom in the air.

Austin, Texas, USA
Leptomyrmex rufipes.  A spider ant worker, gaster raised characteristically above her body. 

Mungkan Kandju National Park, Queensland, Australia
Leptomyrmex rufipes.  A spider ant worker, gaster raised characteristically above her body. 

Mungkan Kandju National Park, Queensland, Australia
Leptomyrmex rufipes.  A spider ant worker, gaster raised characteristically above her body. 

Mungkan Kandju National Park, Queensland, Australia
Among the most damaging pest ant species is Solenopsis invicta, a fire ant native to South America.  This species has been accidentally imported to the southern United States, eastern Australia, China, and elsewhere.  Here a worker fire ant is shown in stereotypical defensive posture, her sting extruded, waving a droplet of venom in the air.

Austin, Texas, USA
Among the most damaging pest ant species is Solenopsis invicta, a fire ant native to South America.  This species has been accidentally imported to the southern United States, eastern Australia, China, and elsewhere.  Here a worker fire ant is shown in stereotypical defensive posture, her sting extruded, waving a droplet of venom in the air.

Austin, Texas, USA
Among the most damaging pest ant species is Solenopsis invicta, a fire ant native to South America.  This species has been accidentally imported to the southern United States, eastern Australia, China, and elsewhere.  Here a worker fire ant is shown in stereotypical defensive posture, her sting extruded, waving a droplet of venom in the air.

Austin, Texas, USA
Solenopsis invicta

Frías, Santiago de Estero, Argentina
Among the most damaging pest ant species is Solenopsis invicta, a fire ant native to South America. This species has been accidentally imported to the southern United States, eastern Australia, China, and elsewhere. Here a worker fire ant is shown in stereotypical defensive posture, her sting extruded, waving a droplet of venom in the air.

Austin, Texas, USA
Among the most damaging pest ant species is Solenopsis invicta, a fire ant native to South America.  This species has been accidentally imported to the southern United States, eastern Australia, China, and elsewhere.  Here a worker fire ant is shown in stereotypical defensive posture, her sting extruded, waving a droplet of venom in the air.

Austin, Texas, USA
Among the most damaging pest ant species is Solenopsis invicta, a fire ant native to South America. This species has been accidentally imported to the southern United States, eastern Australia, China, and elsewhere. Here a worker fire ant is shown in stereotypical defensive posture, her sting extruded, waving a droplet of venom in the air.

Austin, Texas, USA
See photo in original gallery.
all images and text © Alex Wild 2001-2013