Biological Activities and Ecological Significance of Fire Ant Venom Alkaloids

Venoms produced by arthropods act as chemical weapons to paralyze prey or deter competitors. The utilization of venom is an essential feature in the biology and ecology venomous arthropods. Solenopsis fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) are medically important ants. They have acquired different patterns use maximize their competitive advantages rendered when facing challenges. major components ant piperidine alkaloids, which strong insecticidal antibiotic activities. alkaloids protect from pathogens over course lives can be used defend them predators also utilized some ants’ natural enemies, such phorid flies locate host Collectively, these diverse alkaloid compositions functions ecological significance for survival, successful invasion, rapid range expansion. with powerful biological activities may played role shaping assembly communities both native introduced ranges.