Little Fire Ant Wasmannia auropunctata (Roger) (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Abstract

The Featured Creatures collection provides in-depth profiles of insects, nematodes, arachnids and other organisms relevant to Florida. These profiles are intended for the use of interested laypersons with some knowledge of biology as well as academic audiences. The little fire ant, Wasmannia auropunctata (Roger), is a problematic invasive species from Central and South America that has become established in numerous countries and on islands around the world. This species has been documented in the state of Florida since at least 1924, where it was first recorded in Miami (Wetterer and Porter 2003). As the common name little fire ant (LFA) suggests, stings are painful, especially in relation to their small size.