Tj. Slowik et Hg. Thorvilson, LOCALIZATION OF SUBCUTICULAR IRON-CONTAINING TISSUE IN THE RED IMPORTED FIRE ANT, The Southwestern entomologist, 21(3), 1996, pp. 247-254
Queens, alates, and three worker classes of the red imported fire ant,
Solenopsis invicta Buren, were examined for the presence of internal
iron concentrations using analytical and anatomical techniques. Iron-s
pecific staining located subcuticular ferric material in the abdomens
of major, media, and minor workers; however, tissues of worker heads a
nd thoraces did not consistently contain areas of localized iron. Quee
ns and alates also did not consistently stain for concentrated iron in
body tissues. Gut and ommatidial tissues of all ants occasionally rev
ealed iron-containing areas. Iron was confirmed by X-ray spectroscopy
in positively stained tissues.