LOCALIZATION OF SUBCUTICULAR IRON-CONTAINING TISSUE IN THE RED IMPORTED FIRE ANT

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.