tjuvmyra
Solenopsis fugax
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Hymenoptera
Family
Formicidae
Genus
Solenopsis
tjuvmyra belongs to the family Formicidae, order Hymenoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The thief ant (Solenopsis fugax) faces severe population declines due to habitat destruction from urbanization and intensive agriculture, which eliminates the specific soil conditions and host ant colonies it depends upon. Climate change and pesticide use further threaten remaining populations by disrupting the delicate ecological relationships this specialized parasitic species requires for survival.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Sandy and well-drained soils in open grasslands, meadows, and forest edges where it constructs small underground colonies near the nests of larger ant species. The species requires specific soil conditions and proximity to host ant colonies from which it steals food and brood.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The thief ant (Solenopsis fugax) faces severe population declines due to habitat destruction from urbanization and intensive agriculture, which eliminates the specific soil conditions and host ant colonies it depends upon. Climate change and pesticide use further threaten remaining populations by disrupting the delicate ecological relationships this specialized parasitic species requires for survival.
Climate change altering soil temperature and moisture regimes
Habitat loss from urbanization and agricultural intensification
Pesticide application destroying host ant colonies
Fragmentation of suitable nesting sites
Soil compaction and degradation from human activities
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). tjuvmyra (Solenopsis fugax). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/tjuvmyra