Importance:
These ants are usually found in climatically hot areas. They build nests in open areas or under rocks. Ginger ants feed on grass seeds that they gather and store in their nests and sometimes a mound of loose soil and seeds can be seen around the nest entrance. If disturbed these ants will bite and sting.
Host plants are rockmelon and snakebean.
Similar To:
Ginger ants should not be confused with the fire ant, Solenopsis invicta.
Description:
Eggs: White and oval shaped.
Immatures: Newly hatched larvae are white, soft and grub-like.
Adults: Orange-brown to red-brown in colour. They are polymorphic (different size workers) with major and minor workers as well as reproductives. Adults range in size from 2.5 to 6.0 mm in length. The queen ginger ant lays eggs which hatch into larvae, these are fed by workers until they pupate. Newly emerged workers tend the nest which includes feeding the larvae and the queen, they also gather food and continue constructing the nest. As the workers mature they tend the larvae, look after the nest and help obtain food for the colony. The oldest workers in the colony are foragers and these have the role of maintaining the chemical trails along which the ants look for food.
Damage:
Ginger ants are associated with sap-sucking insects such as mealybugs, scales and aphids. The ants tend these sap-sucking insects for their excreted honeydew. In some cropping areas, ginger ants have been seen chewing on recently planted seeds, rockmelon seedlings, snake bean pods and plastic irrigation pipe. Other crops such as dragon fruit (and flowers) and various other plant material have also been attacked. Ginger ants will also attack other insects as well as scavenging on dead insects and animal matter. In the Northern Territory, quarantine restrictions are in place to prohibit the movement of ants in produce to areas interstate and overseas.
Treatment:
Chemical –  INFOPEST
Check with Infopest or APVMA for permitted products.Â
Avoid using broad spectrum insecticides that will kill beneficial insects
Always use chemicals in accordance with directions on the label and observe withholding periods.Â
Cultural – Yes
Inspect the property for ants and trails.Â
Biological – No
There are no predators or parasites which are effective in controlling ginger ant colonies.
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Solenopsis geminata or tropical fire ant is a species of fire ants, described by Fabricius in 1804, in the tribe Solenopsidini; it was originally placed in the Atta genus. This species has a pan-tropical distribution.
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Solenopsis geminata is native to Central and South America, including the Caribbean islands, but has since spread throughout the tropics by human means. It is an invasive species with a world-wide distribution even greater than that of other invasive fire ant species such as Solenopsis invicta (red imported fire ant).
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S. geminata build their nests primarily in the soil in open, sunny areas. The nests are formed, some as craters or mounds, up to 2 feet wide and 12 inches tall with multiple entrance holes up to some 20 per nest. The number of mounds varies greatly, from 10 to 80 per acre in native habitats to up to 1000 or even 1500 mounds per acre in areas where they are introduced.
The colonies can either be monogyne, containing a single queen, or polygyne, containing many reproductive queens. They are known to hybridize with other closely related fire ant species. Queens may start a new colony following a nuptial flight. Otherwise, like other fire ants, they are known to spread by floating. Globally they can expand over long distances by jump-dispersal through human-mediated transport and invade new areas.
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The venom of S. geminata is comparable in power and dangerousness to the one of Solenopsis invicta, and can cause severe allergic reactions capable of threatening human survival.
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The Global Biodiversity Information Facility includes:
Â
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 Media related to Solenopsis geminata at Wikimedia Commons
 Data related to Solenopsis geminata at WikispeciesÂ
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| Solenopsis geminata |
Importance:
These ants are usually found in climatically hot areas. They build nests in open areas or under rocks. Ginger ants feed on grass seeds that they gather and store in their nests and sometimes a mound of loose soil and seeds can be seen around the nest entrance. If disturbed these ants will bite and sting.
Host plants are rockmelon and snakebean.
Similar To:
Ginger ants should not be confused with the fire ant, Solenopsis invicta.
Description:
Eggs: White and oval shaped.
Immatures: Newly hatched larvae are white, soft and grub-like.
Adults: Orange-brown to red-brown in colour. They are polymorphic (different size workers) with major and minor workers as well as reproductives. Adults range in size from 2.5 to 6.0 mm in length. The queen ginger ant lays eggs which hatch into larvae, these are fed by workers until they pupate. Newly emerged workers tend the nest which includes feeding the larvae and the queen, they also gather food and continue constructing the nest. As the workers mature they tend the larvae, look after the nest and help obtain food for the colony. The oldest workers in the colony are foragers and these have the role of maintaining the chemical trails along which the ants look for food.
Damage:
Ginger ants are associated with sap-sucking insects such as mealybugs, scales and aphids. The ants tend these sap-sucking insects for their excreted honeydew. In some cropping areas, ginger ants have been seen chewing on recently planted seeds, rockmelon seedlings, snake bean pods and plastic irrigation pipe. Other crops such as dragon fruit (and flowers) and various other plant material have also been attacked. Ginger ants will also attack other insects as well as scavenging on dead insects and animal matter. In the Northern Territory, quarantine restrictions are in place to prohibit the movement of ants in produce to areas interstate and overseas.
Treatment:
Chemical –  INFOPEST
Check with Infopest or APVMA for permitted products.Â
Avoid using broad spectrum insecticides that will kill beneficial insects
Always use chemicals in accordance with directions on the label and observe withholding periods.Â
Cultural – Yes
Inspect the property for ants and trails.Â
Biological – No
There are no predators or parasites which are effective in controlling ginger ant colonies.
Â
Â
Solenopsis geminata or tropical fire ant is a species of fire ants, described by Fabricius in 1804, in the tribe Solenopsidini; it was originally placed in the Atta genus. This species has a pan-tropical distribution.
Â
Solenopsis geminata is native to Central and South America, including the Caribbean islands, but has since spread throughout the tropics by human means. It is an invasive species with a world-wide distribution even greater than that of other invasive fire ant species such as Solenopsis invicta (red imported fire ant).
Â
S. geminata build their nests primarily in the soil in open, sunny areas. The nests are formed, some as craters or mounds, up to 2 feet wide and 12 inches tall with multiple entrance holes up to some 20 per nest. The number of mounds varies greatly, from 10 to 80 per acre in native habitats to up to 1000 or even 1500 mounds per acre in areas where they are introduced.
The colonies can either be monogyne, containing a single queen, or polygyne, containing many reproductive queens. They are known to hybridize with other closely related fire ant species. Queens may start a new colony following a nuptial flight. Otherwise, like other fire ants, they are known to spread by floating. Globally they can expand over long distances by jump-dispersal through human-mediated transport and invade new areas.
Â
The venom of S. geminata is comparable in power and dangerousness to the one of Solenopsis invicta, and can cause severe allergic reactions capable of threatening human survival.
Â
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility includes:
Â
Â
 Media related to Solenopsis geminata at Wikimedia Commons Data related to Solenopsis geminata at WikispeciesÂ
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