Cover Caption

The Imported Fire Ant, Solenopsis invicta (from South America), has become a worldwide pest and only very cold weather limits its spread. It bites and stings and it will attack many things, including people (which can lead to death). In this picture the ant is just beginning to attack the pest caterpiller, Heliotius zea (which is good for the corn plant), but afterwords the ant can attach the corn kernels. Thus, this ant is a serious pest of animals (including people) as well as plants. In this issue the world wide impact of this ant (the good, bad and the ugly) is reviewed and discussed (see pages 439–455). (Photo provided by S. Brad Vinson of Texas A&M University, USA).