@article {33494, title = {First record of a species from the New World Pheidole flavens-complex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) introduced to the southwestern Pacific}, journal = {BioInvasions Records}, volume = {3}, year = {2014}, month = {Jan-11-2014}, pages = {301 - 307}, abstract = {
Ants are among the world\’s most destructive invaders, and Pacific Islands are particularly susceptible to invasion by non-native ant species.
A species from the taxonomically problematic Pheidole flavens-complex is reported here for the first time from the southwestern Pacific.
Specimens of the species reported here were collected November 2011 from an established colony on Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu, during a
survey of the island\’s ant fauna. Morphological and genetic analyses revealed these Vanuatu specimens belong to the Neotropical P. flavens
group. The DNA sequence data most closely matched those of two specimens previously determined as P. moerens Wheeler and P. flavens
Roger. A closely related taxon currently being treated as P. moerens Wheeler was reported from Hawaii in 2005. Preliminary morphological
analysis suggests that the Vanuatu population reported here represents a different species than the Hawaii P. moerens. However, a valid
species name cannot be confidently applied to either the Hawaii population or the Vanuatu population until a comprehensive taxonomic
revision of the flavens-complex is completed. Species of the Pheidole flavens-complex are occasionally considered pest ants, but have not
been documented as causing significant harm to native species, food security or public health. However, the recent spread of species in this
complex across the southeastern United States, recent introductions to California and Hawaii, and the recent discovery in Vanuatu suggests
their potential for human-mediated dispersal and establishment. We hope that raising awareness of this new incursion will improve the
chances of early detection and eradication before the species spreads further into the Pacific Island region. We provide specimen photographs
of the major and minor caste and a brief diagnosis that can be used to separate this species from other Pheidole species introduced in the
Pacific island region, including Pheidole megacephala (Fabricius) and the morphologically similar Pheidole parva.
}, keywords = {biological invasion, Invasive ants, Melanesia, Pacific islands, Pheidole, Tramp ants, Vanuatu}, doi = {10.3391/bir.2014.3.4.13}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.3391/bir.2014.3.4.13}, author = {Sarnat, E M and Rabeling, C and Economo, E.P. and Wilson, E.O.} } @book {33492, title = {Pheidole of the New World: A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus}, year = {2003}, pages = {[ix] + 794}, publisher = {Harvard University Press}, organization = {Harvard University Press}, address = {Cambridge, MA}, author = {Wilson, E.O.} } @book {27872, title = {The ants}, year = {1990}, note = {Part of FORMIS; from NAL{\textquoteright}s AGRICOLA; Part of the Leaf-Cutting Ant Bibliography; from Fire Ant Literature Database; from-DPW, verified-DPW; from ANTBIB; {Date from publisher.} Michael Fisher (Harvard Univ. Press), pers. comm., 2.x.1995, verified-PSW.}, month = {Published: 28 Ma}, pages = {xii + 732}, publisher = {Harvard University Press}, organization = {Harvard University Press}, address = {Cambridge, Mass.}, author = {H{\"o}lldobler, B. and Wilson, E.O.} } @article {3880, title = {A monographic revision of the ant genus Lasius}, journal = {Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College}, volume = {113}, year = {1955}, note = {Part of FORMIS; from-DPW, verified-DPW; from ANTBIB; verified-PSW.}, month = {Published: Mar 1}, pages = {1-201}, author = {Wilson, E.O.} } @article {3881, title = {The tenuis and selenophora groups of the ant genus Ponera (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)}, journal = {Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology}, volume = {116}, year = {1957}, note = {Part of FORMIS 99; from ANTBIB; verified-PSW; from-DPW, }, month = {May 1957}, pages = {355-386}, author = {Wilson, E.O.} } @article {3882, title = {Communication by tandem running and ant genus Cardiocondyla}, journal = {Psyche (Cambridge)}, volume = {66}, year = {1960}, note = {Part of FORMIS; from The Ants; from Fire Ant Literature Database; verified-DPW; from ANTBIB; verified-PSW.}, month = {Published: 08 Se}, pages = {29-34}, abstract = {[S. saevissima is S. invicta or S. richteri in North America].*[90\% of S. invicta workers returning from rich food sources contribute material to the trail. Camponotus spp. in Australia \& India use tandem running]}, author = {Wilson, E.O.} } @article {3883, title = {Behavior of the cryptobiotic predaceous ant Eurhopalothrix heliscata, n. sp. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Basicerotini)}, journal = {Insectes Sociaux}, volume = {31}, year = {1985}, note = {Part of FORMIS; from CBU; from ANTBIB; verified-PSW; from-DPW, }, month = {Apr 1985}, pages = {408-428}, abstract = {1. Eurhopalothrix heliscata n. sp. is an Asiatic representative of the little known ant tribe Basicerotini and the first member of the group to be studied intensively. We report evidence that it preys on a variety of termites, but also takes at least some other kinds of insects. Overall, the social behavior is simple relative to that of many other myrmicine ants. 2. Prey are hunted and retrieved singly. But foraging workers are also able to recruit nestmates to the vicinity of groups of prey and as a result accelerate retrieval of termites to the brood chambers. A prolonged exploration of the surrounding area also ensues. 3. With the aid of chemical cues, workers are able to recognize material from the vicinity of their nest. 4. The workers are notably thigmotactic. They use their wedge- shaped heads, hard bodies, and short legs to press into tight spaces. they seize the appendages of termites with their short, sharp-toothed mandibles, clasping these body parts of the prey even more tightly with the aid of their projecting, heavily sclerotized labra. 5. E. heliscata tend to gather in large, broodless groups away from the main part of the colony. This bivouacing behavior, which effectively dispenses the foragers over a wider area, may improve the efficiency of the predation on termites. 6. The workers appear not to practice food exchange, worker oviposition, or alarm defense behavior, nor do they recruit during colony emigration. 7. Prolonged fighting and dominance-subordinance relations among queens have been observed under laboratory conditions. 8. Other details of nesting behavior and social interactions are described (see, e.g., table 1).}, author = {Wilson, E.O. and Brown, W.L., Jr.} } @article {3884, title = {The ants of Polynesia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)}, journal = {Pacific Insects Monograph}, volume = {14}, year = {1967}, note = {Part of FORMIS; from The Ants; verified-DPW; from Fire Ant Literature Database; from ANTBIB; verified-PSW.}, month = {Published: 15 Au}, pages = {1-109}, abstract = {*[Noted that P. megacephala generally does not co-occur with other dominant Pheidole species in the Pacific, such as P. fervens \& P. oceanica. First record for P. megacephala from Cook Is. is from 1914, Line Is. is from 1922, \& Swains I. is from 1940. Concluded that the P. teneriffana specimens listed by Santschi (1919) were actually P. megacephala.]}, author = {Wilson, E.O. and Taylor, R.W.} }