Solenopsis

Solenopsis is a large, cosmopolitan, and taxonomically difficult genus of mostly minute, monomorphic, wholly subterranean species. These minute species frequently live as thief ants within the colonies of other larger species of ants or termites. Some New World species are larger and are polymorphic; the colonies may be very large and the workers are aggressive surface foragers. These larger species are called "fire ants" because of the intense, burning sensation caused by their stings. The fire ants are important pest species. (Wheeler and Wheeler 1986)

Species richness
Species richness by country based on regional taxon lists (countries with darker colours are more species-rich). View Data



Nomenclature

 *  SOLENOPSIS [Myrmicinae: Solenopsidini]
 * Solenopsis Westwood, 1840b: 86. Type-species: Solenopsis mandibularis (junior synonym of Atta geminata), by monotypy.
 * Solenopsis senior synonym of Diplorhoptrum: Mayr, 1862: 751 (see under Diplorhoptrum).
 * Solenopsis senior synonym of Bisolenopsis, Diagyne, Euophthalma, Granisolenopsis, Labauchena, Lilidris, Oedaleocerus, Paranamyrma, Synsolenopsis: Ettershank, 1966: 134.
 * Solenopsis senior synonym of Octella: Taylor, 1991b: 611.
 * BISOLENOPSIS [junior synonym of Solenopsis]
 * Bisolenopsis Kusnezov, 1953d: 9. Type-species: Bisolenopsis sea, by monotypy.
 * Bisolenopsis junior synonym of Solenopsis: Ettershank, 1966: 134.
 *  DISOLENOPSIS [unavailable name]
 * Disolenopsis Snelling, R.R. 1981: 397, incorrect subsequent spelling of Bisolenopsis: Bolton, 1995b: 22.
 * DIAGYNE [junior synonym of Solenopsis]
 * Diagyne Santschi, 1923c: 268 [as subgenus of Solenopsis]. Type-species: Solenopsis succinea, by monotypy.
 * Diagyne junior synonym of Solenopsis: Ettershank, 1966: 134.
 * DIPLORHOPTRUM [junior synonym of Solenopsis]
 * Diplorhoptrum Mayr, 1855: 449. Type-species: Formica fugax, by monotypy.
 * Diplorhoptrum as genus: Baroni Urbani, 1968: 68; Kutter, 1977c: 98; Bernard, 1978a: 543; Arnol'di & Dlussky, 1978: 539; Collingwood, 1979: 64; Dlussky & Fedoseeva, 1988: 80; Kupyanskaya, 1990: 132; Atanasov & Dlussky, 1992: 167; Dlussky & Radchenko, 1994: 102.
 * Diplorhoptrum subgenus of Solenopsis: Creighton, 1930b: 43; Creighton, 1950a: 233; Smith, M.R. 1951a: 813; Kusnezov, 1956: 27; Kusnezov, 1957a: 273; Kusnezov, 1962b: 160; Smith, M.R. 1967: 358.
 * Diplorhoptrum junior synonym of Solenopsis: Mayr, 1862: 751; Roger, 1863b: 32; Mayr, 1863: 453; Emery & Forel, 1879: 464; Dalla Torre, 1893: 75; Forel, 1915d: 9; Emery, 1922e: 195; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 877; Ettershank, 1966: 134; Kempf, 1972a: 232; Bolton, 1987: 285; Bolton, 1994: 106; Bolton, 1995b: 27; Bolton, 2003: 218.
 * EUOPHTHALMA [junior synonym of Solenopsis]
 * Euophthalma Creighton, 1930b: 43 [as subgenus of Solenopsis]. Type-species: Myrmica globularia, by original designation.
 * Euophthalma junior synonym of Solenopsis: Ettershank, 1966: 134.
 * GRANISOLENOPSIS [junior synonym of Solenopsis]
 * Granisolenopsis Kusnezov, 1956: 26 [as subgenus of Solenopsis] (diagnosis in key). Type-species: Solenopsis (Granisolenopsis) granivora, by original designation.
 * [Granisolenopsis also described as new by Kusnezov, 1957a: 277.]
 * Granisolenopsis junior synonym of Solenopsis: Ettershank, 1966: 134.
 * LABAUCHENA [junior synonym of Solenopsis]
 * Labauchena Santschi, 1930d: 81. Type-species: Labauchena daguerrei, by monotypy.
 * Labauchena junior synonym of Solenopsis: Ettershank, 1966: 134.
 * LILIDRIS [junior synonym of Solenopsis]
 * Lilidris Kusnezov, 1956: 26 (diagnosis in key). Type-species: Lilidris metatarsalis, by original designation.
 * [Lilidris also described as new by Kusnezov, 1957a: 274 and Kusnezov, 1958b: 189.]
 * Lilidris junior synonym of Solenopsis: Ettershank, 1966: 134.
 * OCTELLA [junior synonym of Solenopsis]
 * Octella Forel, 1915b: 70 [as subgenus of Oligomyrmex]. Type-species: Oligomyrmex (Octella) pachycerus, by original designation.
 * Octella junior synonym of Oligomyrmex: Ettershank, 1966: 119.
 * Octella junior synonym of Solenopsis: Taylor, 1991b: 611.
 * OEDALEOCERUS [junior synonym of Solenopsis]
 * Oedaleocerus Creighton, 1930b: 43 [as subgenus of Solenopsis]. Type-species: Solenopsis angulata, by original designation.
 * Oedaleocerus raised to genus: Kusnezov, 1957a: 272.
 * Oedaleocerus junior synonym of Solenopsis: Ettershank, 1966: 134.
 * PARANAMYRMA [junior synonym of Solenopsis]
 * Paranamyrma Kusnezov, 1953d: 17. Type-species: Paranamyrma solenopsidis, by monotypy.
 * [Paranamyrma also described as new by Kusnezov, 1954a: 9.]
 * Paranamyrma junior synonym of Solenopsis: Ettershank, 1966: 134.
 * SYNSOLENOPSIS [junior synonym of Solenopsis]
 * Synsolenopsis Forel, 1918b: 155 [as subgenus of Solenopsis]. Type-species: Solenopsis (Synsolenopsis) bruchi (junior primary homonym in Solenopsis, replaced by Solenopsis bruchiella), by monotypy.
 * Synsolenopsis raised to genus: Kusnezov, 1953c: 341; Kusnezov, 1962b: 160.
 * Synsolenopsis junior synonym of Solenopsis: Ettershank, 1966: 134.

Additional References

 * Wheeler, G. C. and J. Wheeler. 1986. The ants of Nevada. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles.