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Fireants?

Cable_Hogue Jul 18, 2005 10:05 PM

Hey Gordon,
Can you tell me if these are fire ants? They are very small. Barely big enough to bit onto a rugosus leg, but the do.
These guys are living in my new outdoor enclosure and are having a flight tonight.
My little DHL is darting in and grabbiing the queens as they emerge.

Thanks!

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Phrynosoma.Com

Replies (6)

snelling Jul 20, 2005 07:01 AM

Cable
Those are indeed fireants, Solenopsis xyloni to be exact. This is the time of year they fly like crazy.

Cable_Hogue Jul 20, 2005 10:19 AM

Well, that is some bad news. I'll have to figure out how to remove them without introducing toxins to my enclosure. :|
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Phrynosoma.Com

Les4toads Jul 21, 2005 11:42 AM

These fireants are not a problem. These fireants are native and are not like Solenopsis invicta, a non-native. Solenopsis xyloni are fine for HLs.

Lester G.Milroy III
Conservation Biologist

Cable_Hogue Jul 21, 2005 08:24 PM

Thanks very much Lester. I wondered why I didn't see the big mound that you read about. How are things with you these days? How are the studies coming?
I have not been to California in many months, but I would think the HL's would be having a very good year.
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Phrynosoma.Com

dizzyfun Aug 07, 2005 11:25 AM

are the larger fire ants ok to feed as well? the ones that about 3 times as long as a standard house ant and have a red body and a black hind-end. (sorry don't remember the names for ant's body sections) i have a picture of the ants but i just have them on my computer not online anywhere.

these fire ants live in the same area as i got my pigmy horned lizard. i collected her about a month ago and she had babies!! 1 died at birth and then 1 wouldn't eat. the one i have left is eating and really enjoys fruit flies. my 5 year old daughter named him nemo! she also named the mother, her name is flower.

Cable_Hogue Aug 07, 2005 07:29 PM

Those sound like pogonomymex californicus, which are not fire ants. They are harvesters. These should be fine to feed your SHL if she'll eat them.
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Phrynosoma.Com

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