Overwinter Survival of the Red Imported Fire Ant in Central Georgia

Survival of colonies of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, near its current northern range in the Georgia Piedmont during Oct.–Feb., 1975–76 was 96–100%. Workers moved brood underground when mound temperatures dropped to 10–12°C. Dead workers were removed from colonies following periods of −0°C. Workers, alate females, and males which were immobilized by −0° in the mounds were collected and held at room temperature, where recovery was 92.6%, 88.25% and 4%, respectively. S. invicta should be able to extend its present range based on lethal low temperatures as a limiting factor.