Solenopsis xyloni (Southern Fire Ant)

Solenopsis xyloni — the Southern Fire Ant, a fast-paced, fiery native of the southern U.S. and one of the most exciting species you can keep. Bicolored rusty-red workers, explosive growth, and big polymorphic majors make this a colony that never stops surprising you.

• Founding: Fully claustral — the queen raises her first workers on her own. Some populations are polygynous, accepting multiple cooperating queens.
• Diet: Generalist and hungry — they take protein, liquid sugars, and seeds. The more you feed, the faster they grow.
• Growth: Very fast with heat — colonies develop majors quickly and scale rapidly.
• Temperature: Loves it hot — 85–95°F with a gradient. They won't thrive without a heat source.
• No diapause: A warm-climate species — do not cold-diapause it.
• Handle with respect: Yes, they sting — secure your setup and keep an outworld ready as the colony grows.

New to this species? Read our full Southern Fire Ant care guide →

From their chamber to your door — shipped with care by Royal Chamber Ants.