Invasive ants of Bermuda revisited

For 60+ years, two of the world's most widespread and destructive invasive ant species, the African big-headed ant (Pheidole megacephala ) from tropical Africa and the Argentine ant (Linepithema humile ) from subtropical South America, have been engaged in an epic battle on the islands of Bermu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of Hymenoptera research Vol. 54; no. 54; pp. 33 - 41
Main Author Wetterer, James K
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Sofia Pensoft Publishers 27.02.2017
Subjects
Animal behavior
Ants
Cardiocondyla
Distribution
Introduced species
Islands
Linepithema humile
Mangroves
New records
Pheidole megacephala
Rhizophora mangle
Strumigenys
Bermuda
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Summary:For 60+ years, two of the world's most widespread and destructive invasive ant species, the African big-headed ant (Pheidole megacephala ) from tropical Africa and the Argentine ant (Linepithema humile ) from subtropical South America, have been engaged in an epic battle on the islands of Bermuda. Both species are completely intolerant of the other and are also well-known for killing off native invertebrates, particularly other ants. Here I surveyed sites across Bermuda in 2016, including resurveys of the locations previously surveyed in 1963, 1966, 1973, 1986, and 2002, to provide an update on this conflict. The status of all other ant species present in the islands, including previous records from literature, is also provided. In addition, I surveyed ants nesting in red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle ) trees to evaluate whether this arboreal habitat may serve as a refuge for previously overlooked ant species.
ISSN:1070-9428
1314-2607
DOI:10.3897/jhr.54.11444