Solenopsis geminata has been found in South Korea, suggesting a risk of its invasion has been increased by rapid climate change. This situation requires species distribution modeling to predict possibility of Solenopsis geminata introduction, but information necessary for performing it is very limited. In this study, we developed a map for global distribution of Solenopsis geminata so that the map can be used for future species distribution modeling. Also, as the first step to assess Solenopsis geminata introduction, climatic similarity between its origin (Puerto Rico) and major cities in South Korea was compared. We used ArcMap (version 10.0) for creating the distribution map by obtaining current habitat from public database, and CLIMEX was used to compare climates based on CMI value. The result showed that climates were not similar as indicated by CMI less than 0.52, suggesting the risk of intial introduction is low under the current climatic condition. However, it should be noted that climatic similarity did not consider biological characteristics of Solenopsis geminata and climate change. Thus, the next study will be devoted to climatic suitability simultaneously considers meteorological data, distribution and biological information.

Tropical fire ant, Solenopsis geminata (Fabricius) is distributed over the tropical and temperate areas. It is a polyphagous pest attacking to various plant and causes the pain to the people doing outdoor work. So it is known for a hygienic pest to human being, especially the people doing outdoor activities. It can cause severe pain to human, even with just a bite. Of particular concern is the possibility of its settlement in this country, if it invade to the farmlands and/or forests of Jeju Island and southern part in Korea. It is listed as a regulated pest in Plant Quarantine Act of Korea. This ant is usually imported through a ship and early settled in the port area where it is already distributed. Recently its distribution is rapidly spreading into Southeast Asia and southern part of China. In Korea, it was detected the one time in 1990s, but was detected the ten times from 2000 to 2006 by an imported plant quarantine process. Therefore, we would like to provide some information on the species, including morphology, distribution, host plant, damaged symptom and its general bionomics, which will be useful data for plant quarantine process and control.