Potential Global Range Expansion of the Invasive Fire Ant, Solenopsis invicta

Morrison, Lloyd W.; Porter, Sanford D.; Daniels, E.; Korzukhin, M. D.

doi:10.1023/b:binv.0000022135.96042.90

Cited by 192 publications

(175 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…although the approach is different in each study they show results broadly similar to ours: New Zealand is too cold for A. gracilipes (Lester 2005), marginal for S. invicta in northern New Zealand (Morrison et al 2004;Lester 2005;Sutherst & Maywald 2005), and suitable for L. humile, particularly in the North island (Harris 2002;Hartley & Lester 2003;Hartley et al 2006). a soilbased temperature model predicted several southerly locations suitable for L. humile that were considered too cold when based on air temperature (Hartley & Lester 2003).…”

Section: Comparisons To Other Approachessupporting

confidence: 72%

Relative risk of invasive ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) establishing in New Zealand

Harris

Barker

2007

New Zealand Journal of Zoology

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Human-assisted spread of species poses a major challenge to border security agencies. Ideally, limited resources need to be targeted at species posing the most risk. Climate matching is an important component of assessing risk but often little or no biological information is available to enable detailed modelling. To assess if distribution records alone provide useful establishment predictions we compare the climate in New Zealand and its outlying islands to that found in the current native and introduced ranges of 12 tramp ant species, three of which are already established in New Zealand, using the climate module of BIOSECURE, a risk assessment tool. Eleven species showed a similar general pattern, with mean annual temperature being the climatic variable with the least overlap between the estimated realised niche and the predicted New Zealand niche. The twelfth species, of temperate origin, is less restricted by temperature, but much of New Zealand may have too high a rainfall. The present and future threats posed by tramp ants are discussed in relation to climate limitations.

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Section: Comparisons To Other Approachessupporting

confidence: 72%

Relative risk of invasive ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) establishing in New Zealand

Harris

Barker

2007

New Zealand Journal of Zoology

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“…Mycocepurus smithii is a neotropical non-leaf-cutting fungusgrowing ant that forms colonies with an average of 77 workers in reproductive nests in Puerto Rico (32) but can also form much larger single colonies that occupy more than one nest in the Brazilian Amazon (33,34). In contrast, S. invicta is originally from South America but has become widespread in its invasive range and can reach colony sizes of 220,000 individuals (35,36). Solenopsis geminata variants have been introduced to many locations, including Taiwan and possibly Florida (H. Axen, unpublished data).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Specificity between Lactobacilli and Hymenopteran Hosts Is the Exception Rather than the Rule

McFrederick

Cannone

Gutell

et al. 2013

Appl Environ Microbiol

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c Lactobacilli (Lactobacillales: Lactobacillaceae) are well known for their roles in food fermentation, as probiotics, and in human health, but they can also be dominant members of the microbiota of some species of Hymenoptera (ants, bees, and wasps). Honey bees and bumble bees associate with host-specific lactobacilli, and some evidence suggests that these lactobacilli are important for bee health. Social transmission helps maintain associations between these bees and their respective microbiota. To determine whether lactobacilli associated with social hymenopteran hosts are generally host specific, we gathered publicly available Lactobacillus 16S rRNA gene sequences, along with Lactobacillus sequences from 454 pyrosequencing surveys of six other hymenopteran species (three sweat bees and three ants). We determined the comparative secondary structural models of 16S rRNA, which allowed us to accurately align the entire 16S rRNA gene, including fast-evolving regions. BLAST searches and maximum-likelihood phylogenetic reconstructions confirmed that honey and bumble bees have host-specific Lactobacillus associates. Regardless of colony size or within-colony oral sharing of food (trophallaxis), sweat bees and ants associate with lactobacilli that are closely related to those found in vertebrate hosts or in diverse environments. Why honey and bumble bees associate with host-specific lactobacilli while other social Hymenoptera do not remains an open question. Lactobacilli are known to inhibit the growth of other microbes and can be beneficial whether they are coevolved with their host or are recruited by the host from environmental sources through mechanisms of partner choice.

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“…However, several other highly destructive ants have thus far come to occupy only a small portion of their potential ranges, most notably the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) (Wetterer 2013). Great vigilance is needed to prevent S. invicta and other invasive ant species from reaching Bermuda where it would likely thrive (Morrison et al 2004) and cause substantial ecological and economic damage.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Invasive ants of Bermuda revisited

Wetterer¹

2017

JHR

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For 60+ years, two of the world's most widespread and destructive invasive ant species, the African bigheaded 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.

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Potential Global Range Expansion of the Invasive Fire Ant, Solenopsis invicta

Cited by 192 publications

References 32 publications

Relative risk of invasive ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) establishing in New Zealand

Relative risk of invasive ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) establishing in New Zealand

Specificity between Lactobacilli and Hymenopteran Hosts Is the Exception Rather than the Rule

Invasive ants of Bermuda revisited

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