Forager Polymorphism and Foraging Ecology in the Leaf-Cutting Ant, Atta colombica

I compare forager size and foraging selectivity of the leaf-cutting ant Atta colombica and that of its close relative Atta cephalotes. In both species, larger foragers cut fragments of greater mass and area, and at vegetation sources of greater specific density (mass/area). However, the size-range of A. colombica foragers (1.5–56.8 mg) was wider than the range typical for A. cephalotes (1.4–32.1 mg). In A. colombica, the maxima workers (24–60 mg) commonly participate in foraging, making up 13% of all foragers in this study and in a previous study. In contrast, A. cephalotes maxima workers (24–100 mg) rarely forage (less than 1% of all foragers in two previous studies), but instead serve primarily as soldiers defending the nest. Thus, A. colombica maxima workers are smaller and do not appear to be so specialized as soldiers as are A. cephalotes maxima workers. The broader size-range of workers participating in foraging appears to allow A. colombica to exploit a wider range of resources than A. cephalotes, including tougher, denser vegetation and fallen fruits

Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Madeiran Archipelago

The subtropical Atlantic archipelago of Madeira is part of the Macaronesian biogeographic subregion. Absence of important mainland competitors and predators on Macaronesian islands has allowed the survival of many relicts of the subtropical biota that once inhabited the Mediterranean area. In the 19th century, however, two highly destructive exotic ant species, the big-headed ant (Pheidole megacephala) and the Argentine ant (Linepithema humile), invaded Madeira. Many authors have assumed that these invaders exterminated most or all native ants of Madeira, despite no research actually documenting such impact. In the present study, we compiled records and evaluated the native versus exotic status of all ant species collected in Madeira. We examined specimens of 27 ant species from Madeira: Cardiocondyla emeryi, Cardiocondyla mauritanica, Hypoponera eduardi, Hypoponera punc tatissima, Hypoponera sp. 1, Lasius grandis, Linepithema humile, Messor structor, Monomorium carbonarium, Monomorium pharaonis, Monomorium subopacum, Myrmecina graminicola, Paratrechina jaegerskioeldi, Paratrechina longicornis, Pheidole megacephala, Pheidole pallidula, Plagiolepis schmitzii, Pyramica membranifera, Solenopsis sp. 1, Solenopsis sp. 2, Strumigenys silvest rii, Tapinoma madeirense (new status), Technomyrmex pallipes, Temnothorax unifasciatus, Temnothorax wollastoni, Tetramorium bicarinatum, and Tetra morium caldarium. One previously reported species, Camponotus sylvaticus, we could not verify with specimens, but accept it was correctly identified, at least to genus. We determined that one ant taxon reported from Madeira is a junior synonym of another taxon present: Plagiolepis schmitzii madeirensis (= P. schmitzii, new synonymy). In addition, published records of eight ant taxa reported from Madeira appear to be misidentifications of other species present. Based on their known distribution and ecology, ten ant species (including the seven most common species) appear to be native to Madeira. Only one native ant species, T. wollastoni, has not been collected recently (1995 or later) in Madeira. Although exotic ants may have exterminated T. wollastoni, it seems likely that this species still survives.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of San Marino

A recent catalog of the ants of Europe and surrounding areas listed no ants recorded from San Marino. One afternoon of collecting in urban sites of San Marino yielded 23 ant species: Aphaenogaster subterranea, Camponotus aethiops, Camponotus fallax, Camponotus lateralis, Camponotus piceus, Crematogaster scutellaris, Formica cunicularia, Formica gagates, Hypoponera eduardi, Lasius emarginatus, Lasius lasioides, Lasius paralienus, Messor structor, Pheidole pallidula, Plagiolepis pygmaea, Tapinoma nigerrimum s.l., Temnothorax angustulus, Temnothorax flavicornis, Temnothorax italicus, Temnothorax lichtensteini, Temnothorax tergestinus, Temnothorax unifasciatus, and Tetramorium caespitum. Surprisingly, despite collecting in heavily disturbed urban sites, none of the ants known so far from San Marino are exotic to Europe

Isolation and characterization of Nylanderia fulva virus 1, a positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus infecting the tawny crazy ant, Nylanderia fulva.

We report the discovery of Nylanderia fulva virus 1 (NfV-1), the first virus identified and characterized from the ant, Nylanderia fulva. The NfV-1 genome (GenBank accession KX024775) is 10,881 nucleotides in length, encoding one large open reading frame (ORF). Helicase, protease, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, and jelly-roll capsid protein domains were recognized within the polyprotein. Phylogenetic analysis placed NfV-1 in an unclassified clade of viruses. Electron microscopic examination of negatively stained samples revealed particles with icosahedral symmetry with a diameter of 28.7±1.1nm. The virus was detected by RT-PCR in larval, pupal, worker and queen developmental stages. However, the replicative strand of NfV-1 was only detected in larvae. Vertical transmission did not appear to occur, but horizontal transmission was facile. The inter-colonial field prevalence of NfV-1 was 52±35% with some local infections reaching 100%. NfV-1 was not detected in limited samples of other Nylanderia species or closely related ant species.JSL was supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant DEB-0743542. AEF is supported by the Wellcome Trust (Grant no. [106207]) and the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union׳s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (Grant agreement no. [646891]).This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from Elsevier at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.virol.2016.06.014

Genetic Diversity and Wolbachia Infection Patterns in a Globally Distributed Invasive Ant.

Understanding the phylogeographic history of an invasive species may facilitate reconstructing the history and routes of its invasion. The longhorn crazy ant, Paratrechina longicornis, is a ubiquitous agricultural and household pest throughout much of the tropics and subtropics, but little is known about the history of its spread. Here, we examine worldwide genetic variation in P. longicornis and its associated Wolbachia bacterial symbionts. Analyses of mtDNA sequences of 248 P. longicornis workers (one per colony) from 13 geographic regions reveal two highly diverged mtDNA clades that co-occur in most of the geographic regions. These two mtDNA clades are associated with different Wolbachia infection patterns, but are not congruent with patterns of nDNA (microsatellite) variation. Multilocus sequence typing reveals two distinct Wolbachia strains in P. longicornis, namely, wLonA and wLonF. The evolutionary histories of these two strains differ; wLonA appears to be primarily transmitted maternally, and patterns of mtDNA and nDNA variation and wLonA infection status are consistent with a relatively recent Wolbachia-induced selective sweep. In contrast, the observed patterns of mtDNA variation and wLonF infections suggest frequent horizontal transfer and losses of wLonF infections. The lack of nDNA structure among sampled geographic regions coupled with the finding that numerous mtDNA haplotypes are shared among regions implies that inadvertent long-distance movement through human commerce is common in P. longicornis and has shaped the genetic structure of this invasive ant worldwide

Ants of Tonga

This paper presents combined published, unpublished, and new ant records from 17 islands of Tonga representing all four island groups: Tongatapu (Tongatapu, 'Eua, 'Onevai, Pangaimotu), Ha'apai (Lifuka, Kao, Tofua, 'Uonukahahake, Nomuka, Nomuka-iki, Mango, Telekitonga), Vava'u (Vava'u, Nuapapu, Kapa), and the Niuas (Niuatoputapu, Niuafo'ou). These records increase the list of ants known from Tonga to 53 species. Ten species, including six undescribed species, are local endemics found only in Tonga or only in Tonga and Samoa: Adelomyrmex sp., Camponotus conicus, Camponotus nigrifrons, Hypoponera sp., Monomorium sp., Ochetellus sp., Pheidole sp., Pristomyrmex sp., Strumigenys zakharovi, and Vollenhovia samoensis. Another 21 species are broadly distributed Pacific natives: Anochetus graeffei, Camponotus chloroticus, Hypoponera confinis, Monomorium liliuokalanii, Monomorium talpa, Odontomachus simillimus, Oligomyrmex atomus, Pheidole oceanica, Pheidole sexspinosa, Pheidole umbonata, Ponera incerta, Ponera tenuis, Pyramica dubia, Rogeria stigmatica, Solenopsis papuana, Strumigenys godeffroyi, Tapinoma minutum, Technomyrmex albipes, Tetramorium insolens, Tetramorium pacificum, and Tetramorium tonganum. Finally, 22 species are not native to the Pacific region, but were brought to the region by human commerce: Anoplolepis gracilipes, Cardiocondyla emeryi, Cardiocondyla nuda, Hypoponera opaciceps, Hypoponera punetatissima, Monomorium floricola, Monomorium pharaonis, Monomorium sechellense, Paratrechina bourbonica, Paratrechina longicornis, Paratrechina vaga, Pheidole fervens, Pheidole megacephala, Plagiolepis alluaudi, Pyramica membranifera, Solenopsis geminata, Strumigenys emmae, Strumigenys rogeri, Tapinoma melanocephalum, Tetramorium bicarinatum, Tetramorium lanuginosum, and Tetramorium simillimum. The number of ant species now known from Tonga is much as would be expected based on the species-area relationship for the neighboring island groups of Fiji, Wallis and Futuna, and Samoa. Differences in ant species richness among these island groups is primarily due to a greater number of local endemics in the island groups with greater land area

Nonindigenous Ants Associated with Geothermal and Human Disturbance in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park

Although the Hawaiian Islands lack indigenous ants, more than 40 exotic species have become established there, primarily in lowland areas, where they have been implicated in the extermination of much of the endemic Hawaiian fauna. In June to August 1994, I surveyed ants in the K.I1auea Caldera region (elevation 1090-1240 m) of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park to evaluate the current range and potential impact of ants in this protected montane ecosystem. Ants were common in areas disturbed by geothermal or human activity, but rare in undisturbed forest. A total of 15 ant species was collected, including 10 "lowland" ant species that are generally restricted to elevations below 900 m in Hawai'i. Pheidole megacephala and Anoplolepis longipes, major pest species in lowland Hawai'i, occurred in very high densities in and around the geothermal area near the park headquarters. Paratrechina bourbonica and Cardiocondyla venustula, two cold-tolerant species, were the most common ants in a second geothermal area, the Puhimau hot spot, and in areas disturbed by human activity, including roadsides. Linepithema humile, a major pest species in drier highland areas, occurred only in and around park buildings. The geothermal areas and park buildings appear to serve as warm "habitat islands" that allow Ph. megacephala, A. longipes, and other lowland ants to extend their ranges to higher elevations. Colonization of geothermal areas by lowland ant species, such as Ph. megacephala and A. longipes, poses a threat to endemic Hawaiian species in those areas. Colonization of roadsides and other disturbed areas by more cold-tolerant ants, such as P. bourbonica, C. venustula, and L. humile, poses a more general threat to endemic Hawaiian species found at higher elevations

Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Samoa

The ants of Samoa have been well studied compared with those of other Pacific island groups. Using Wilson and Taylor's (1967) specimen records and taxonomic analyses and Wilson and Hunt's (1967) list of 61 ant species with reliable records from Samoa as a starting point, we added published, unpublished, and new records of ants collected in Samoa and updated taxonomy. We increased the list of ants from Samoa to 68 species. Of these 68 ant species, 12 species are known only from Samoa or from Samoa and one neighboring island group, 30 species appear to be broader-ranged Pacific natives, and 26 appear to be exotic to the Pacific region. The seven-species increase in the Samoan ant list resulted from the split of Pacific Tetramorium guineense into the exotic T. bicarinatum and the native T. insolens, new records of four exotic species (Cardiocondyla obscurior, Hypoponera opaciceps, Solenopsis geminata, and Tetramorium lanuginosum), and new records of two species of uncertain status (Tetramorium cf. grassii, tentatively considered a native Pacific species, and Monomorium sp., tentatively considered an endemic Samoan form)

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 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. In 2016, L. humile occurred at most surveyed sites in Bermuda, including all ten resurveyed sites. Pheidole megacephala was present at only two resurveyed sites, a lower proportion of sites than any of the five earlier surveys. Still, P. megacephala occupied substantial areas, particularly in and around Hamilton, the capital of Bermuda. This survey increased the number of ant species with verified records from Bermuda to 25, including four exotic species recorded for the first time: Cardiocondyla minutior, Pheidole navigans, Strumigenys emmae, and Strumigenys membranifera. I found five ant species nesting in mangroves: L. humile plus four Old World exotics, C. minutior, Cardiocondyla obscurior, Monomorium floricola, and Plagiolepis alluaudi. It appears that L. humile may be better suited to the subtropical climate of Bermuda than P. megacephala, except perhaps in warmer and sunnier habitats, such as plantings along urban streets and in open parks, where P. megacephala may hold the advantage. The dataset on the new ant records from 2016 is provided with the paper