Liang Yuling, Hong Jingxin, Song Yunbo, Yue Kuo, Chen Meng, Wu Jiarui, Ou Yangting, Liang Mingrong, Lu Yongyue
Red Imported Fire Ant Research Center, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
Insect Biodiversity and Biogeography Laboratory, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Animals (Basel). 2025 May 20;15(10):1483. doi: 10.3390/ani15101483.
The red imported fire ant (, RIFA) is a globally invasive species with strong sensitivity to environmental conditions. This study investigated the seasonal dynamics and colony structure of RIFA over the course of one year across two typical habitats in South China: plantations and fishponds. The results revealed clear seasonal patterns in caste composition. Worker abundance peaked during winter (December-January), while reproductive individuals (queens, males, and alates) emerged primarily in spring and early summer (March-May). Colony biomass, worker number, and individual dry weight were significantly higher in plantations, whereas fishpond habitats exhibited greater numbers of larvae and male alates, suggesting different reproductive allocation strategies across habitats. An analysis of caste composition indicated that adult workers were dominant in both habitats, but the proportion of pupae was notably higher in fishpond colonies, especially in spring. Significant correlations were found between colony metrics and nest characteristics, including a negative relationship between worker body length and colony biomass. Environmental factor analysis showed that air pressure positively influenced worker numbers, while temperature was negatively associated with them. Precipitation and humidity played key roles in regulating larval and pupal populations. Overall, exhibited strong seasonal patterns and ecological plasticity in response to habitat differences and environmental variables. These findings provide insights into the species' invasion biology and inform habitat-specific monitoring and management strategies.
红火蚁（RIFA）是一种对环境条件敏感的全球入侵物种。本研究调查了中国南方两个典型栖息地（种植园和鱼塘）中红火蚁在一年中的季节动态和蚁群结构。结果揭示了其等级组成的明显季节模式。工蚁数量在冬季（12月至1月）达到峰值，而生殖个体（蚁后、雄蚁和有翅蚁）主要在春季和初夏（3月至5月）出现。种植园中蚁群生物量、工蚁数量和个体干重显著更高，而鱼塘栖息地的幼虫和雄性有翅蚁数量更多，这表明不同栖息地有不同的繁殖分配策略。等级组成分析表明，成年工蚁在两个栖息地都占主导地位，但蛹在鱼塘蚁群中的比例明显更高，尤其是在春季。发现蚁群指标与蚁巢特征之间存在显著相关性，包括工蚁体长与蚁群生物量之间呈负相关。环境因素分析表明，气压对工蚁数量有正向影响，而温度与之呈负相关。降水和湿度在调节幼虫和蛹的数量方面起关键作用。总体而言，红火蚁对栖息地差异和环境变量表现出强烈的季节模式和生态可塑性。这些发现为该物种的入侵生物学提供了见解，并为特定栖息地的监测和管理策略提供了依据。
