What is the difference between red ants and fire ants?
Red ants and fire ants belong to the same class which is Insecta. They both have segmented bodies; that is head, thorax, and abdomen. Their legs are divided into three joints. These two ants have been confused by many as they have many features that are similar. However, red ants are different from fire ants.
The main difference between red ants and fire ants is that red ants are light brown color fire ants while fire ants are the stinging ants that belong to the genus Solenopsis.
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Comparison Table (Red Ants Vs Fire Ants)
| Characteristics | Red ants | Fire ants |
| Meaning | Refers to a group of fire ants that are red in color. | Refers to tropical American ants that have a painful and sometimes dangerous sting |
| Significance | A type of fire ants. | It belongs to the genus Solenopsis. |
| Color | They are light brown in color. | They are either red or black in color. |
| Species | There are a few species. | There are five species. |
What Are Red Ants?
Red ants are a group of fire ants that are red in color. They are very aggressive. They bite with their mouth, holding on, and then sting to inject venom into the body of the prey. The venom causes burning pain at the point of bite.
They have three-segmented bodies. That is; the head, the thorax, and the abdomen. Their legs are jointed. The most common type is the red imported fire ants. They are native to the United States. Another species of the red ants is the Pharaoh ants.
They are omnivores. They feed on both plant matter and animals. They feed on meat, greasy and sweet materials.
What Are Fire Ants?
Fire ants are tropical American ants that have a painful and sometimes dangerous sting. Their color ranges from bright red to black. They prefer a warm climate. There are five species of fire ants.
They have two bumps between the thorax and abdomen and this feature makes them different from other ants. They have an elbow in their antennae. The elbow is the first segment of the antennae. The antennae have 10 segments.
They make mounds that can even rise to 18 inches in height. They make the mounds in moist places such as the river banks. The mounds do not have an opening at the top. They feed on insects and arthropods. These reduce the need for insecticides hence they are beneficial in reducing pollution.
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Main Differences Between Red Ants and Fire Ants
- Red ants are a group of ants that are red in color while fire ants are tropical American ants that have a painful and sometimes dangerous sting.
- Red ants are types of ants while fire ants belong to the genus Solenopsis.
- Red ants are light brown in color while fire ants are either black or red in color.
Similarities Between Red Ants and Fire Ants
- Both are stinging ants that inject venom into the prey’s body.
- They are both aggressive.
- Both have segmented bodies.
- Both have jointed legs.
- They are both invertebrates.
- They both have a bump between the thorax and abdomen.
- They both have three pairs of legs attached to the thorax.
- They both form colonies.
- Both refer to males as drones and females as queens.
- In both, the wingless sterile female is called a worker or soldier.
In Conclusion
Red ants and fire ants belong to the same genus Solenopsis. They are ants with painful stings and sometimes dangerous. They inject venom into their prey’s body when it bites it and sometimes may cause the spot to swell. The main feature that makes red ants be different from fire ants is the color.
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