Solenopsis tennesseensis Smith 1951

Habitat: S. tenesseensis is apparently strictly subsuperficial, but was found at surface level under a rock, in rich loamy soil, during the particularly moist and relatively cool conditions of summer 2008. In Florida, I encountered this ant in moist litter and moist soil locations, mostly caught in subterranean bait traps buried 10 cm.

Natural History: Due to its small size, barely over 1mm, and very slow movements, this ant could be easily overlooked. I encountered it in mostly-male mating swarms several times before chancing upon a colony under a flat rock in a friend's flower garden. The flights apparently occur throughout the summer, as I have found swarms of the tiny males and the slightly larger, dusky yellow-brown females flying in early July and late September, on calm, clear, warm, late afternoons. The colony sample, containing mature alates, was collected in early August.

South of Missouri River only?

Solenopsis tennesseensis Smith, 1951c PDF: 814. AntCat AntWiki

Taxonomic history

Replacement name for Solenopsis longiceps Smith, 1943.[Junior primary homonym of Solenopsis longiceps Forel, 1907.].See also: Thompson & Johnson, 1989 PDF: 698; Pacheco & Mackay, 2013 PDF: 320.

Solenopsis tennesseensis is a species of ant in the family Formicidae. It is one of the many species of fire ants.