Diversidad de hormigas en la dieta del oso hormiguero gigante, Myrmecophaga tridactyla (Pilosa: Myrmecophagidae), en la Reserva Natural Iberá, Argentina

El oso hormiguero gigante, Myrmecophaga tridactyla, es una especie catalogada como vulnerable tanto a nivel mundial como en Argentina, donde desapareció en varias regiones de su distribución nativa. Un programa de reintroducción de especies se lleva a cabo desde 2006 en la Reserva Natural Iberá en Corrientes. Se estudió la dieta de los osos hormigueros gigantes liberados para determinar la identidad de sus presas y conocer si poseen preferencia por hormigas o termitas o por sitios de alimentación (abiertos o cerrados). Se colectaron 22 muestras de heces entre 2008-2013, recuperándose cabezas y mesosomas. Estos tagmas fueron identificados en 12 taxones de hormigas y uno de termitas. Los taxones observados representaron el 80% de lo esperado a ser ingerido por los osos. Camponotus fue el género más común, y Acromyrmex y Solenopsis los más abundantes numéricamente. Los taxones ingeridos por M. tridactyla se relacionaron positivamente con la disponibilidad del área, sugiriendo que los osos no tienen preferencia por presas en particular. Principalmente consumieron hormigas con nidos conspicuos de Solenopsis, Camponotus y Acromyrmex que se encuentran mayormente en áreas abiertas de la reserva y no en el bosque, hábitat preferido. Creemos que debido a la alta disponibilidad de esas presas, los osos reducen su tiempo de búsqueda de forrajeo, y por ende, su tiempo de permanencia en áreas abiertas, evitando así riesgos de prelación y daños térmicos. La conservación de ambos hábitats, abiertos y cerrados, sería esencial para el mantenimiento de la población reintroducida de osos hormigueros gigantes.The giant anteater, Myrmecophaga tridactyla, globally categorized as a vulnerable species, has disappeared in several regions of its original distribution in Argentina. A program to reintroduce the species has been conducted in the Iberá Nature Reserve in Corrientes province since 2006. The diet of released giant anteaters was studied to determine the identity of their prey, and establish whether they have preference for ants or termites or, rather, prefer certain feeding habitats (e. g., open or closed). Twenty two fecal samples were randomly collected during 2008-2013, and heads and mesosomes were recovered. We identified 12 taxa of ants and only one taxon of termites. Observed taxa represent around 80% of the taxa expected to be eaten by anteaters. Camponotus was the most common ant genus, and Acromyrmex and Solenopsis were the numerically most abundant genera. The ant taxa ingested by M. tridactyla were reflective of their natural availablility in the area, suggesting that giant anteaters had no preference for any particular prey. They mainly consumed ant species of the genera Solenopsis, Camponotus and Acromyrmex with conspicuous nests that occur mostly in open habitats of the reserve and not in the most preferred habitat (forest). One possible explanation is thatanteaters reduce their foraging search time, and consequently the time they are out in open habitat, so avoiding predation risk and thermal injuries. Thus, conservation of both open and closed habitats would be essential formaintaining the reintroduced populations of giant anteaters.Fil: Jiménez, Nadia Lis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Fundación para el Estudio de Especies Invasivas; ArgentinaFil: Di Blanco, Yamil Edgardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú; Argentina. Centro de Investigaciones del Bosque Atlántico; ArgentinaFil: Calcaterra, Luis Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Fundación para el Estudio de Especies Invasivas; Argentin

Coping with temperature extremes: thermal tolerance and behavioral plasticity in desert leaf-cutting ants (Hymeno ptera: Formicidae) across an altitudinal gradient

Current approaches to assess and predict the impact of climate warming on ectotherms are largely based on their physiological sensitivity to temperature. However, these physiological studies provide little insight into the mechanisms by which particular species respond to increasing temperatures through behavior, phenotypic plasticity, or genetic adaptation. In this work, we focus on the potential of thermoregulatory behaviors of terrestrial ectotherms to buffer the impact of climate change. Using as models two sympatric species of leaf-cutting ants (Acromyrmex lobicornis and A. striatus), we attempt to investigate whether their altitudinal distribution across an arid-base mountain is predicted by their physiological critic thermal limits (CTmax and CTmin), temperature of foraging activity, and fungus garden depth. We found that both species differed in their critical thermal limits, but this difference did not explain their pattern of abundance along the altitudinal gradient. Both species showed plasticity in their behavioral responses to temperature changes across the elevational gradient. The onset and daily pattern of foraging activity changed with altitude, such that the range of temperatures at which both species foraged as well as the temperature of maximum foraging activity were maintained across all elevations. The depth of the fungus chamber changed as a function of the environmental temperature, being deeper during the summer compared with the winter, and at the base of the mountain compared with the highest elevation. Our results show that we need to go beyond thermal physiology to predict how some ectotherms species respond to climate change and that the plasticity in behavioral responses to extreme temperature could allow species to persist in warmer habitats despite increasing temperatures.Fil: Yela, Natalia Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Universidad Nacional de La Rioja. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Universidad Nacional de Catamarca. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Secretaría de Industria y Minería. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Provincia de La Rioja. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja; ArgentinaFil: Calcaterra, Luis Alberto. Fundación para el Estudio de Especies Invasivas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Aranda Rickert, Adriana Marina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Universidad Nacional de La Rioja. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Universidad Nacional de Catamarca. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Secretaría de Industria y Minería. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja. - Provincia de La Rioja. Centro Regional de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia Tecnológica de La Rioja; Argentin

Check list of ground-dwelling ant diversity (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Iguazú National Park with a comparison at regional scale

We describe the ant fauna of Iguazú National Park (INP), a region of high biodiversity andendemism in northeastern Argentina that includes the southernmost protected area ofthe Atlantic Forest (AF). Ants were sampled over seven periods from 1998 to 2011 usinga variety of techniques. We also surveyed museum collections and the scientific literatureto obtain additional records of ants from INP. In addition to providing a species list, wecompare ant composition of INP to other sites in the Upper Paraná, Serra do Mar CoastalForest and Araucaria ecoregion of AF. A total of 172 ant species belonging to 56 genera arereported; 56 species are new records for Misiones Province and 39 species are reportedfrom Argentina for the first time. Alto Paraná and Canindeyú departments in Paraguaypresent the most similar ant fauna to INP. Serra da Bodoquena in Brazil and Pilcomayoin Argentina showed higher similarity with the Upper Paraná AF ecoregion, despite thatSerra da Bodoquena is composed of a mix of ecoregions. Ant diversity was lower in UpperParaná than in Serra do Mar Coastal Forest ecoregion. This difference may result fromhigher primary productivity and a greater altitudinal variation in the coastal region.Fil: Hanisch, Priscila Elena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales ; ArgentinaFil: Calcaterra, Luis Alberto. Fundación para el Estudio de Especies Invasivas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Leponce, M.. Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences. Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecology unit; BélgicaFil: Achury, R.. University of Illinois at Urbana; Estados UnidosFil: Suarez, A. V.. University of Illinois at Urbana; Estados UnidosFil: Silva, R. R.. Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi; BrasilFil: Paris, Carolina Ivon. Universidad de Buenos Aires; Argentin

Wasmannia Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae) in Argentina: systematics and distribution

The ant genus Wasmannia is endemic to the Neotropics, with 10 species occurring within the presumptive native range for the genus from Mexico to Argentina. Only the little fire ant, Wasmannia auropunctata is widely distributed being present from central-eastern Argentina to Bermuda, and has become infamous due to its recent worldwide expansion and status as an invasive pest. The objective of this work was to study the systematics and distribution of Wasmannia in its southern limit of distribution in Argentina. Out of the three species reported so far for Argentina, only W. auropunctata was found to be widely distributed, but abundant only in disturbed habitats mostly in the Northeast. Herein, the distribution of Wasmannia auropunctata is extended and its queen and male castes are redescribed, along with descriptions of gynandromorphs (specimens with left side of the head similar to a male and right side similar to a queen). Wasmannia sulcaticeps and W. williamsoni are much less common and widespread. W. sulcaticepsis mostly found in mountain forests in northwestern Argentina, whereas W. williamsoni is only found in shrublands and grasslands in central eastern Argentina, and most frequently in mountain grasslands. Both species overlap with W. auropunctata, which is more common in the lowlands, between approximately 400 and 1000 m elevation. The queen of W. williamsoni is described and queen and male of W. sulcaticeps are redescribed. A new species, Wasmannia longiseta n. sp. Cuezzo and Calcaterra, recently found in northeastern Argentina is described based on worker morphology. Wasmannia rochai is recorded for the first time in Misiones, extending its distribution range from São Paulo (Brazil) to Misiones in northeastern Argentina. A key to the worker caste is provided. A cladistic analysis based on discrete and continuous morphological characters is presented as a first attempt to clarify the phylogenetic relationships between the known species of Wasmannia.Fil: Cuezzo, Fabiana del Carmen. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales E Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto Superior de Entomología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Calcaterra, Luis Alberto. Fundación Para El Estudio de Especies Invasivas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Chifflet, Lucila. Universidad de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Follet, P. A.. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center; Estados Unido

Supercolonial structure of invasive populations of the tawny crazy ant Nylanderia fulva in the US

Background: Social insects are among the most serious invasive pests in the world, particularly successful at monopolizing environmental resources to outcompete native species and achieve ecological dominance. The invasive success of some social insects is enhanced by their unicolonial structure, under which the presence of numerous queens and the lack of aggression against non-nestmates allow high worker densities, colony growth, and survival while eliminating intra-specific competition. In this study, we investigated the population genetics, colony structure and levels of aggression in the tawny crazy ant, Nylanderia fulva, which was recently introduced into the United States from South America. Results: We found that this species experienced a genetic bottleneck during its invasion lowering its genetic diversity by 60%. Our results show that the introduction of N. fulva is associated with a shift in colony structure. This species exhibits a multicolonial organization in its native range, with colonies clearly separated from one another, whereas it displays a unicolonial system with no clear boundaries among nests in its invasive range. We uncovered an absence of genetic differentiation among populations across the entire invasive range, and a lack of aggressive behaviors towards conspecifics from different nests, even ones separated by several hundreds of kilometers. Conclusions: Overall, these results suggest that across its entire invasive range in the U.S.A., this species forms a single supercolony spreading more than 2000 km. In each invasive nest, we found several, up to hundreds, of reproductive queens, each being mated with a single male. The many reproductive queens per nests, together with the free movement of individuals between nests, leads to a relatedness coefficient among nestmate workers close to zero in introduced populations, calling into question the stability of this unicolonial system in which indirect fitness benefits to workers is apparently absent.Fil: Eyer, Pierre André. Texas A&M University; Estados UnidosFil: McDowell, Bryant. Texas A&M University; Estados UnidosFil: Johnson, Laura N. L.. Texas A&M University; Estados UnidosFil: Calcaterra, Luis Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Fundación para el Estudio de Especies Invasivas; ArgentinaFil: Fernández, María Belén. Fundación para el Estudio de Especies Invasivas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Shoemaker, Dewayne. University of Tennessee; Estados UnidosFil: Puckett, Robert T.. Texas A&M University; Estados UnidosFil: Vargo, Edward L.. Texas A&M University; Estados Unido

Evolutionary history of the little fire ant Wasmannia auropunctata before global invasion: Inferring dispersal patterns, niche requirements and past and present distribution within its native range

The evolutionary history of invasive species within their native range may involve key processes that allow them to colonize new habitats. Therefore, phylogeographic studies of invasive species within their native ranges are useful to understand invasion biology in an evolutionary context. Here we integrated classical and Bayesian phylogeographic methods using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA markers with a palaeodistribution modelling approach, to infer the phylogeographic history of the invasive ant Wasmannia auropunctata across its native distribution in South America. We discuss our results in the context of the recent establishment of this mostly tropical species in the Mediterranean region. Our Bayesian phylogeographic analysis suggests that the common ancestor of the two main clades of W. auropunctata occurred in central Brazil during the Pliocene. Clade A would have differentiated northward and clade B southward, followed by a secondary contact beginning about 380 000 years ago in central South America. There were differences in the most suitable habitats among clades when considering three distinct climatic periods, suggesting that genetic differentiation was accompanied by changes in niche requirements, clade A being a tropical lineage and clade B a subtropical and temperate lineage. Only clade B reached more southern latitudes, with a colder climate than that of northern South America. This is concordant with the adaptation of this originally tropical ant species to temperate climates prior to its successful establishment in the Mediterranean region. This study highlights the usefulness of exploring the evolutionary history of invasive species within their native ranges to better understand biological invasions. © 2016 European Society for Evolutionary Biology

Distribution and abundance of the fire ant Solenopsis invicta in Argentina: its interactions with competitor ants and parasitoid flies (Pseudacteon SPP.)

Se estudiaron la distribución y abundancia de la hormiga colorada Solenopsis invicta y sus interacciones ecológicas con hormigas competidoras y moscas parasitoides en el extremo sur de su área nativa en Sudamérica. Solenopsis invicta se distribuyó a través de diversos hábitats y climas en Brasil, Paraguay, Uruguay y en Argentina hasta los 33° 41Ž latitud sur, los 64° 52Ž longitud oeste y los 1.100 m de altitud. Sorpresivamente, no se encontró S. invicta en Bolivia. Diez especies de fóridos estuvieron asociadas a S. invicta en su área nativa, nueve en un solo sitio. El clima determinó la presencia y abundancia de la mayoría de las especies, excepto P. litoralis y P. nocens. Pseudacteon obtusus (grande) mostró la distribución más austral y occidental (este es el primer registro de moscas en Chile) y fue registrada a la mayor altitud (2.280 m); P. curvatus fue la más abundante y una de las más ampliamente distribuidas y P. cultellatus fue encontrada por primera vez atacando a S. invicta. Una especie de mosca nueva para la ciencia, P. calderensis, fue descubierta y descripta en este trabajo. La tasa general de parasitismo natural registrada por primera vez en esta tesis fue muy baja (0,24%), aunque el porcentaje alcanzó al 2,81% de las colonias en un sitio. Los presencia de fóridos afectó la capacidad de forrajeo de S. invicta, pero no su jerarquía de dominancia. Solenopsis invicta fue espacial (64-82%) y numéricamente (23-27%) dominante en todos los ensambles, sin mostrar la mayor biomasa y sin excluir a otras especies. Al menos 8-10 especies de hormigas fueron muy comunes en la mayoría de ensambles; el 60% correspondió al grupo funcional Myrmicinae generalizado que interactuó frecuentemente con S. invicta. A pesar de no ser una buena descubridora de recursos, S. invicta ganó el 78% de las interacciones principalmente con P. obscurithorax y dominó ecológicamente a sus competidoras usando cuatro mecanismos: (1) alto número de individuos, (2) sistema de reclutamiento muy desarrollado, (3) comportamiento agresivo y (4) actividad de forrajeo continua. Fue mejor descubridora y dominadora en hábitats más simples y pobres en especies. La situación en Argentina contrasta fuertemente con lo observado en Norte América. El fuerte ambiente competitivo en los ensambles de hormigas en Argentina sería el factor más importante (seguido por los enemigos naturales) que limita el éxito de S. invicta. La introducción de un gran número de especies de moscas parasitoides desde Sudamérica debería reducir la habilidad competitiva y la abundancia de S. invicta en los Estados Unidos. Las especies elegidas deberían provenir de la región de origen de las poblaciones invasoras en los Estados Unidos. El conocimiento de la relación plaga-enemigo natural-ambiente en su área nativa es de suma utilidad para proyectos de control biológico en los Estados Unidos y otras regiones invadidas por S. invicta.The distribution and abundance of the fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, and its ecological interactions with competitor ants and parasitoid flies were studied in its native land in southern South America. Solenopsis invicta was distributed in diverse habitats and climates in Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and in Argentina up to 33° 41Ž S, 64° 52Ž W and 1100 m of altitude. Surprisingly, S. invicta was not found in Bolivia. Ten phorid species were associated with S. invicta in its native land and up to nine in the same site. Climate determined the presence and abundance of most species except P. litoralis and P. nocens. Pseudacteon obtusus (big) showed the southernmost and westernmost (it is the first record for Chile) distribution and was recorded at the highest altitude (2280 m); P. curvatus was the most abundant and one of the most widely distributed and P. cultellatus was found for the first time attacking S. invicta. A fly species new for science, P. calderensis, was discovered and described in this work. The overall natural parasitism rate, recorded for the first time in this thesis, was very low (0.24%), although the rate reached 2.81% of the colonies at one site. The presence of phorids affected the foraging capacity of S. invicta but not its hierarchy of dominance. Solenopsis invicta was spatially (64-82%) and numerically (23-27%) dominant in all ensembles without showing the highest biomass and not excluding other species. At least 8-10 ant species were very common in most ensembles; 60% corresponded to the Generalized Myrmicinae functional group, which frequently interacted with S. invicta. Despite not being a good discoverer of resources, S. invicta won 78% of the interactions mainly with P. obscurithorax, and ecologically dominated its competitors using four mechanisms: (1) large numbers of individuals, (2) well developed recruitment system, (3) aggressive behavior, and (4) not-interrupted-foraging activity. It was a better discoverer and dominant in simpler and poorer habitats. The situation in Argentina strongly contrasts with that observed in North America. The strong competitive environment in the ant ensembles in Argentina would be the most important factor (followed by natural enemies) limiting the success of S. invicta. The introduction of a large number of parasitoid fly species from South America should decrease the competitive ability and abundance of S. invicta in the United States. The species chosen should come from the region of origin of the invasive populations in the United States. The knowledge of the relationship pest-natural enemy-environment in its native land is greatly useful for biological control projects in the United States and other regions invaded by S. invicta.Fil:Calcaterra, Luis Alberto. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina

Distribución y abundancia de la hormiga colorada Solenopsis invicta en Argentina: sus interacciones con hormigas competidoras y moscas parasitoides (Pseudacteon SPP.)

Se estudiaron la distribución y abundancia de la hormiga colorada Solenopsis invicta y sus interacciones ecológicas con hormigas competidoras y moscas parasitoides en el extremo sur de su área nativa en Sudamérica. Solenopsis invicta se distribuyó a través de diversos hábitats y climas en Brasil, Paraguay, Uruguay y en Argentina hasta los 33° 41Ž latitud sur, los 64° 52Ž longitud oeste y los 1.100 m de altitud. Sorpresivamente, no se encontró S. invicta en Bolivia. Diez especies de fóridos estuvieron asociadas a S. invicta en su área nativa, nueve en un solo sitio. El clima determinó la presencia y abundancia de la mayoría de las especies, excepto P. litoralis y P. nocens. Pseudacteon obtusus (grande) mostró la distribución más austral y occidental (este es el primer registro de moscas en Chile) y fue registrada a la mayor altitud (2.280 m); P. curvatus fue la más abundante y una de las más ampliamente distribuidas y P. cultellatus fue encontrada por primera vez atacando a S. invicta. Una especie de mosca nueva para la ciencia, P. calderensis, fue descubierta y descripta en este trabajo. La tasa general de parasitismo natural registrada por primera vez en esta tesis fue muy baja (0,24%), aunque el porcentaje alcanzó al 2,81% de las colonias en un sitio. Los presencia de fóridos afectó la capacidad de forrajeo de S. invicta, pero no su jerarquía de dominancia. Solenopsis invicta fue espacial (64-82%) y numéricamente (23-27%) dominante en todos los ensambles, sin mostrar la mayor biomasa y sin excluir a otras especies. Al menos 8-10 especies de hormigas fueron muy comunes en la mayoría de ensambles; el 60% correspondió al grupo funcional Myrmicinae generalizado que interactuó frecuentemente con S. invicta. A pesar de no ser una buena descubridora de recursos, S. invicta ganó el 78% de las interacciones principalmente con P. obscurithorax y dominó ecológicamente a sus competidoras usando cuatro mecanismos: (1) alto número de individuos, (2) sistema de reclutamiento muy desarrollado, (3) comportamiento agresivo y (4) actividad de forrajeo continua. Fue mejor descubridora y dominadora en hábitats más simples y pobres en especies. La situación en Argentina contrasta fuertemente con lo observado en Norte América. El fuerte ambiente competitivo en los ensambles de hormigas en Argentina sería el factor más importante (seguido por los enemigos naturales) que limita el éxito de S. invicta. La introducción de un gran número de especies de moscas parasitoides desde Sudamérica debería reducir la habilidad competitiva y la abundancia de S. invicta en los Estados Unidos. Las especies elegidas deberían provenir de la región de origen de las poblaciones invasoras en los Estados Unidos. El conocimiento de la relación plaga-enemigo natural-ambiente en su área nativa es de suma utilidad para proyectos de control biológico en los Estados Unidos y otras regiones invadidas por S. invicta

Local co-occurrence of several highly invasive ants in their native range: are they all ecologically dominant species?

An important goal of invasion ecology is to understand the colonization, establishment, and spread of exotic species. To accomplish this, it is essential to examine the ecology of introduced species in native populations. We examined organization patterns, spatial structure, and competitive abilities of ground-dwelling ants in different habitats of a protected area in east-central Argentina, where several highly invasive ant species naturally coexist, to determine whether all they are ecologically dominant in their native range as in their introduced range. We sampled ant communities at Otamendi Nature Reserve and found 49 ant species co-occurred with moderate separation among habitats, including five species that are global invaders; but only Solenopsis richteri (the most numerically dominant) and Linepithema humile (the best mass recruiter) were ecologically co-dominant along with another three non-invasive species in locally rich assemblages. Their co-occurrence was apparently facilitated by both niche and competitive differences. However, we found no evidence for discovery-dominance trade-offs, and ant diversity and spatial segregation suggested that competition only plays a secondary role in structuring assemblages in arboreal habitats. Despite L. humile and S. richteri were ecologically co-dominant, their hegemony was lower in the reserve than in their introduced range likely due to biotic resistance. The other invasive ants (Wasmannia auropunctata, Brachymyrmex patagonicus, and Nylanderia fulva) were not dominant. It is possible that their establishment, persistence, and high prevalence in anthropic habitats in native and introduced populations to be attributed to their better physiologic adaptations to disturbed habitats rather than to their superior competitive abilities.Fil: Calcaterra, Luis Alberto. Fundación para el Estudio de Especies Invasivas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Sonia, Cabrera. Fundación para el Estudio de Especies Invasivas; ArgentinaFil: Briano, Juan. Fundación para el Estudio de Especies Invasivas; Argentin

Geographic Spread of Pheidole obscurithorax (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

The South American big-headed ant Pheidole obscurithorax was first found in North America in Mobile, Alabama in 1949. Since then, this species has also been recorded in Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and Texas. We compiled and mapped published and unpublished specimen records of P. obscurithorax from >170 sites in South America and the US to evaluate the current geographic range of this species and its possible future spread. We documented the earliest known records for nine geographic areas (South American countries and US states). Site records of P. obscurithorax ranged 27.5 degrees of latitude (from 6.7°S to 34.2°S) in South America, and 3.5 degrees of latitude (from 28.0°N to 31.5°N) in North America. It may be that the North American populations of P. obscurithorax have a fairly narrow range of climatic tolerances. Earlier genetic analyses of native and exotic populations of P. obscurithorax found that the North America populations appear to originate from a single introduction from a population most closely related to native study populations from a stretch along the Paraná River in Argentina from Resistencia (27.5°S) to Santa Fe (31.6°S). This latitudinal range matches the current latitudinal range of P. obscurithorax in North America. Alternatively, the much greater latitudinal range of P. obscurithorax in South America suggests that exotic populations of P. obscurithorax may have potential for much additional expansion in North America and beyond. In South America, P. obscurithorax has a similar native range as the invasive fire ant Solenopsis invicta. In the North America, exotic populations of P. obscurithorax may spread like S. invicta has, across the southeast of the US and into the West Indies.Fil: Wetterer, James K.. Mississippi State University; Estados UnidosFil: MacGown, Joe A.. Mississippi State University; Estados UnidosFil: Calcaterra, Luis Alberto. Fundación para el Estudio de Especies Invasivas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin