Detection and early impacts of France’s first established population of the little fire ant, Wasmannia auropunctata

Blight, Olivier; Thomas, Théophile; Jourdan, Hervé; Bichaton, Jean-Yves; Colindre, Laurent; Galkowski, Christophe

doi:10.1007/s10530-023-03218-w

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…However, both the first discovery of N. vividula in the country and the appearence of B. chinensis at a very distant site from its previously known distribution highlights how alien ants are often able to spread undetected and how opportunistic sampling remains the prevailing mechanism through which they are eventually discovered ( Blight et al 2023 , Menchetti et al 2024 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several species of ants have been introduced around the world, some of which are recognised as invasive species capable of generating significant harm to the environment, human activities or health ( Holway et al 2002 , Wong et al 2023 ). The number of alien ant species in Europe has been rising for decades ( Schifani 2019 ) and, during the last few years, new species of particular concern have been discovered, including the Asian needle ant Brachyponera chinensis (Emery, 1895) ( Menchetti et al 2022 ) and the red imported fire ant Solenopsis invicta Buren, 1972 in Italy ( Menchetti et al 2023 , Menchetti et al 2024 ) and the little fire ant Wasmannia auropunctata (Roger, 1863) in Cyprus, France and Spain ( Espadaler et al 2018 , Espadaler et al 2020 , Demetriou et al 2022 , Blight et al 2023 , Pradera and Espadaler 2024 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While most of them likely fail to establish viable populations, the number of species arriving through international trade is substantial according to the few available data ( Jucker et al 2008 , Wong et al 2023 ). Biosurveillance capabilities are still unable to cope with this phenomenon, because detections are typically late as compared to their establishment and are not the result of targeted efforts ( Blight et al 2023 , Menchetti et al 2024 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Alien ants spreading through Europe: Brachyponera chinensis and Nylanderia vividula in Italy

Schifani,

Grunicke,

Montechiarini

et al. 2024

BDJ

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The number of known alien ant species throughout Europe has been steadily increasing during the last few decades and Italy has been no exception, with four new taxa reported in the last five years. Here, we document new data on the Asian needle ant Brachyponera chinensis (Emery, 1895), an invasive alien species whose first establishment in Europe was detected in the southern Italian city of Naples in 2022 and which has now been found near Lake Como in northern Italy, representing the second European record, about 730 km distant from the first. Furthermore, we report for the first time the presence of Nylanderia vividula (Nylander, 1846) in the country, based on specimens collected both in Rome and near Lake Como. This is at least the second Nylanderia species established in the country after N. jaegerskioeldi, first reported in 2018. Unlike B. chinensis, N. vividula is not considered an ecological and health threat in the invaded range and is already known to occur in several other European countries. While only a few introduced ants in Europe are considered serious ecological, economic or health threats, the increasing circulation of several alien species and the poor ability to swiftly track their movements and detect their establishment can render management very difficult.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Alien ants spreading through Europe: Brachyponera chinensis and Nylanderia vividula in Italy

Schifani,

Grunicke,

Montechiarini

et al. 2024

BDJ

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show abstract

“…About 40 alien ant species are currently estimated to occur as established in Europe, a number that seems to be constantly increasing (Schifani 2019;Menchetti et al 2022;2023;Blight et al 2023). Of these, at least 15 species occur in Greece (Demetriou et al 2023b).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Our record differs from all the previous ones, including the recent Greek record from the island of Rhodes in the Dodecanese archipelago (Demetriou et al 2023b), due to the species being established outdoors in the middle of an agricultural area, suggesting that it has a greater ability to spread than previously thought. As it often happens, this new record is the fruit of casual collecting efforts rather than focused monitoring projects (Schifani 2019;Menchetti et al 2022;2023;Blight et al 2023), and given the habitat in which it was found, the species could be easily already widespread on a much larger scale (Menchetti et al 2024).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cardiocondyla obscurior, a new alien ant in Crete (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Schifani,

Georgiadis,

Menchetti

2024

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We report for the first time the occurrence of the alien ant Cardiocondyla obscurior Wheeler, 1929 on the Greek island of Crete. Cardiocondyla obscurior is one of many congeneric taxa with worldwide success as tramp species, having attained a cosmopolitan distribution while having Indomalayan origins. It was first detected in Europe in 1999, and since 2015 it has started to be found outdoors in Southern European countries. Our record is the first in Europe in which the species is observed to be established outdoors in an agricultural area. Introduced Cardiocondyla ants are generally thought to have little ecological impact, although targeted studies have been lacking. Cardiocondyla obscurior is the third species of its genus to be found on the island of Crete, which is characterized by a remarkable ant diversity.

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Dominance of a highly invasive ant is limited to the nesting territory of its supercolony

Chifflet,

Calcaterra

2024

Ecological Entomology

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Ant invasions represent a serious threat to biodiversity, agriculture and public health. Highly invasive ant species exhibit a very high abundance within its introduced range and cause severe impacts on native ant communities. This scenario tends to be different within the native range, where competitor ants may limit its access to food sources, thus its abundance. Here, we evaluated the competitive ability of a typical clonal and supercolonial native population of Wasmannia auropunctata (Roger) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Argentina. We used a combination of pitfall traps and food baits to study the ant interactions within an assemblage where W. auropunctata coexists with another great invader, Solenopsis invicta (Buren) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The studied assemblage presented 56 ant species/morphospecies. Although W. auropunctata was the most abundant numerically, its ability to discover baits was intermediate, and its ability to recruit workers massively and monopolise baits was low. Wasmannia auropunctata was not successful defending baits nor attempting to usurp baits dominated by other species. Moreover, it lost all contests against S. invicta, one of the most ecologically dominant species in this assemblage. Wasmannia auropunctata dominated food sources only when they were located within the nesting territory of its supercolony. Within the native range, clonality and supercoloniality may favour the local numerical abundance of a highly invasive ant but may not be enough to achieve ecological dominance. This study sheds light on the important role of biotic interactions as a key factor that may limit the dispersal of invasive species.

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Detection and early impacts of France’s first established population of the little fire ant, Wasmannia auropunctata

Cited by 4 publications

References 18 publications

Alien ants spreading through Europe: Brachyponera chinensis and Nylanderia vividula in Italy

Alien ants spreading through Europe: Brachyponera chinensis and Nylanderia vividula in Italy

Cardiocondyla obscurior, a new alien ant in Crete (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)

Dominance of a highly invasive ant is limited to the nesting territory of its supercolony

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