Using spatially explicit surveillance models to provide confidence in the eradication of an invasive ant

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 6; no. 1; p. 34953
• Main Authors: Ward, Darren F., Anderson, Dean P., Barron, Mandy C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 10.10.2016; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/158/1144; 631/158/2178; Animals; Ants - growth & development; Conservation areas; Entomology - methods; Humanities and Social Sciences; Insect Control - methods; Introduced Species; Invasive insects; Invasive species; multidisciplinary; Science; Spatial Analysis; Surveillance
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/srep34953

Effective detection plays an important role in the surveillance and management of invasive species. Invasive ants are very difficult to eradicate and are prone to imperfect detection because of their small size and cryptic nature. Here we demonstrate the use of spatially explicit surveillance models to estimate the probability that Argentine ants ( Linepithema humile ) have been eradicated from an offshore island site, given their absence across four surveys and three surveillance methods, conducted since ant control was applied. The probability of eradication increased sharply as each survey was conducted. Using all surveys and surveillance methods combined, the overall median probability of eradication of Argentine ants was 0.96. There was a high level of confidence in this result, with a high Credible Interval Value of 0.87. Our results demonstrate the value of spatially explicit surveillance models for the likelihood of eradication of Argentine ants. We argue that such models are vital to give confidence in eradication programs, especially from highly valued conservation areas such as offshore islands.