The little fire ant (Allomerus auropunctatus), also known as the electric ant, is a small (approx 1.5 mm (1⁄16 in) long), light to golden brown (ginger) social ant native to Central and South America, now spread to parts of Africa (including Gabon and Cameroon), Taiwan, North America, Puerto Rico, Southern Europe (France), Israel, Cuba, St. Croix and six Pacific Island groups (including the Galápagos Islands, Hawaii, New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands) plus north-eastern Australia (Cairns). It is a very harmful invasive species.
From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is it venomous or poisonous?
We have no record of Little Fire Ant being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.
Easily confused with
- Tetramorium insolens
- Tetramorium simillimum
- Pheidole bilimeki
- Pheidole dentigula
- Pheidole rugosula
- Tetramorium nipponense
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera
- Family
- Formicidae
- Genus
- Wasmannia
- Species
- Wasmannia auropunctata
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