Ants of the Southwest
Solenopsis xyloni
Solenopsis xyloni is native to thet Southern United States.


  

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Solenopsis xyloni worker removing a dead Neivamyrmex Army Ant from her nest.
Solenopsis xyloni worker removing a dead Neivamyrmex Army Ant from her nest.
Solenopsis xyloni workers on barrel cactus extrafloral nectaries.
Solenopsis xyloni workers on barrel cactus extrafloral nectaries.
Solenopsis xyloni queen and minor workers. Solenopsis xyloni is quite variable in color. They come in black, red, and red and black. This nest had multiple queens present - something that I have read is correlated with the darker color in Solenopsis.
Solenopsis xyloni queen and minor workers. Solenopsis xyloni is quite variable in color. They come in black, red, and red and black. This nest had multiple queens present - something that I have read is correlated with the darker color in Solenopsis.
Solenopsis xyloni queen, major worker (to her left, pulling on the queen's leg) and minor workers.
Solenopsis xyloni queen, major worker (to her left, pulling on the queen's leg) and minor workers.
Solenopsis xyloni worker 'gaster flagging' at Camponotus festinatus worker which has come too close. The Solenopsis will lift their gasters and excrete a droplet of venom from their sting, which aerosolizes as the ants wave their gaster in warning.
Solenopsis xyloni worker 'gaster flagging' at Camponotus festinatus worker which has come too close. The Solenopsis will lift their gasters and excrete a droplet of venom from their sting, which aerosolizes as the ants wave their gaster in warning.
Solenopsis xyloni worker (foreground) preparing to gaster-flag at a Camponotus festinatus worker (background).
Solenopsis xyloni worker (foreground) preparing to gaster-flag at a Camponotus festinatus worker (background).
Solenopsis xyloni minor worker. You can see the long sting at the tip of her gaster.
Solenopsis xyloni minor worker. You can see the long sting at the tip of her gaster.
Solenopsis xyloni major worker surrounded by minor workers. As you can see, there can be quite a bit of variability in appearance of Solenopsis - even within the same nest.
Solenopsis xyloni major worker surrounded by minor workers. As you can see, there can be quite a bit of variability in appearance of Solenopsis - even within the same nest.
Solenopsis xyloni major worker fighting with a dark minor worker from another nest. Territorial wars between Solenopsis xyloni nests are qutie a spectacle to behold.
Solenopsis xyloni major worker fighting with a dark minor worker from another nest. Territorial wars between Solenopsis xyloni nests are qutie a spectacle to behold.