Abstract: An aggregation of male alates of Solenopsis richteri was observed in a grazed field in Argentina. Males flew in an ovoid-shaped cloud approximately ~ 2m from the ground, approximately 2 m wide x 5 m tall. Females entered the aggregation singly. Each female flew slowly into the center of the male aggregation, where she hovered in place until a male seized her. The pair immediatly fell to the ground and most pairs were in copula by the time they hit the ground. This type of mating system fits the description for male-aggregation syndrome. Implications for application are discussed.

Key Words: male aggregation; black imported fire ant, dispersal, polygyne