Observation of nuptial flights of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Mainland China.

Abstract

To discover the reproductive characteristics of Solenopsis invicta in Guangdong province, we observed the nuptial flight of field colonies. The results showed that the nuptial flights typically occurred throughout the year, but were more frequent two days after rainy days in Spring and Summer. They often occurred on a sunny day and began to decline after June. Generally, nuptial flights of S. invicta occurred from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, there were no nuptial flights observed at night. The duration of the nuptial flight for each nest was generally more than 30min and no more than 2-3hours, and the peak of the winged alate numbers on the mound surface mostly occurred 90min after nuptial flights began.