@article {33451, title = {An evaluation of several urban pest management strategies to control Argentine ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)}, journal = {Sociobiology}, volume = {50}, year = {2007}, note = {Part of FORMIS 09; from-DPW, }, pages = {391-398}, abstract = {*[All of the treatments significantly reduced ant activity over the course of the 8-wk study. The greatest reductions were achieved at homes that were treated with fipronil. Especially noteworthy was the fipronil spot treatment which reduced ant activity around homes by 90\% at 8 wks. Homes treated with liquid borate bait attained a 73\% reduction in ant activity at 6 wks, \& 83\% when combined with a perimeter spray of fipronil. Other combination treatments with fipronil were equally effective, especially bifenthrin granules, 90\% reduction at 8 wks. At the end of the study 79\% of the homeowners rated the treatments as very effective.]}, author = {Klotz, J.H. and Rust, M.K. and Greenberg, L. and Field, H.C. and Kupfer, K.} } @article {33437, title = {Biotic and abiotic controls of Argentine ant invasion success at local and landscape scales}, journal = {Ecology}, volume = {88}, year = {2007}, note = {Part of FORMIS 08; from NAL{\textquoteright}s AGRICOLA; from-DPW, }, month = {Dec. 2007}, pages = {3164-3173}, abstract = {*[In southern California, a factorial field experiment combining native ant removal with irrigation, revealed that Argentine ants failed to invade any dry plots, even those lacking native ants, but readily invaded all moist plots. Native ants slowed the spread of Argentine ants into irrigated plots, but did not prevent invasion. In areas without Argentine ants, native ant species showed variable responses to irrigation. At the landscape scale, Argentine ant occurrence was positively correlated with minimum winter temperature, but not precipitation. Native ant diversity increased with precipitation \& was negatively correlated with minimum winter temperature. These results demonstrate that fine-scale differences in the physical environment can eclipse biotic resistance from native competitors in determining community susceptibility to invasion. Also, the results illustrate surprising complexities with respect to how the abiotic factors limiting invasion can change with spatial scale. Native \& invasive species can differ in their responses to the physical environment.]}, author = {Menke, S.B. and Fisher, R.N. and Jetz, W. and Holway, D.A.} } @article {33429, title = {Potential economic impact of introduction and spread of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, in Hawaii}, journal = {Environmental Science and Policy}, volume = {10}, year = {2007}, note = {Part of FORMIS 09; from Fire Ant Literature Database; from-DPW, }, month = {November-December 2007}, pages = {685-696}, abstract = {*[This paper presents the estimation of potential economic impacts of the red imported fire ant to the state of Hawaii. Evaluation of impacts focuses on the economic sectors of households, agriculture (cattle \& crop production), infrastructure (cemeteries, churches, cities, electrical, telephone, \& cable services, highways, hospitals, \& schools), recreation, tourism, \& business (hotels/resort areas, golf courses, commercial businesses, \& tourists), \& government expenditures (with minimal intervention). The full annual economic costs of the red imported fire ant to Hawaii are estimated (in US$ 2006) to be $211 million/year, comprised of $77 million in damages \& expenditures, \& $134 million in foregone outdoor opportunities to households \& tourists. The present value of the projected costs of RIFA over a 20-year period after introduction total $2.5 billion. RIFA invasions across the globe indicate that economic cost-effective action in Hawaii entails implementation of prevention, early detection \& rapid response treatment programs for RIFA.]}, author = {Gutrich, J.J. and VanGelder, E. and Loope, L.} } @article {33123, title = {An overview of the red imported fire ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Mainland China}, journal = {Florida Entomologist}, volume = {90}, year = {2007}, month = {Jan-12-2007}, pages = {723 - 731}, abstract = {

The red imported fire ant,\ Solenopsis invicta\ Buren is a serious invasive insect that is native to South America. Its presence was officially announced in mainland China in Jan 2005. To date, it has been identified in 4 provinces in mainland China (Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Fujian) in a total of 31 municipal districts. The total area reported to be infested by\ S. invictain late 2006 was about 7,120 ha, mainly in Guangdong Province (6,332 ha). Most of the reported human stings are in the heavily infested area around Wuchuan City. The most commonly reported reactions have been abnormal redness of the skin, sterile pustules, hives, pain, and/or fever. It has been predicted that most of mainland China is viable habitat for red imported fire ants, including 25 of 31 provinces. The probable northern limit of expansion reaches Shandong, Tianjing, south Henan, and Shanxi provinces. Traditional and new insecticides including the bait N-butyl perfluorooctane sulfonamide and the contact insecticide Yichaoqing have been developed and used to control\ S. invicta. The Ministry of Agriculture and the Chinese government have established an 8-year eradication program (2006 to 2013) for\ S. invicta\ in China.

}, keywords = {China, distribution, red imported fire ant, RIFA}, issn = {0015-4040}, doi = {10.1653/0015-4040(2007)90[723:AOOTRI]2.0.CO;2}, author = {Zhang, Runzhi and Li, Yingchao and Liu, Ning and Porter, Sanford D.} } @article {3877, title = {Taxonomic revision of the ant genus Linepithema (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)}, journal = {University of California Publications in Entomology}, volume = {126}, year = {2007}, note = {Part of FORMIS 07; from NAL{\textquoteright}s AGRICOLA; from-DPW, verified-DPW.}, pages = {vii, 1-151}, abstract = {*[The primarily Neotropical dolichoderine ant genus Linepithema is revised at the species level for the first time. Morphological and biogeographic data support the recognition of 19 species. The following taxonomic scheme is proposed: L. angulatum (Emery) stat.nov. [= pordescens (Wheeler) syn.nov.], L. dispertitum (Forel), L. flavescens (Wheeler \& Mann) stat.nov., L. fuscum Mayr, L. gallardoi (Br{\`e}thes) [=breviscapa (Santschi) syn.nov. = impotens (Santschi) syn.nov.], L. humile (Mayr) [=arrogans (Chopard) = riograndense (Borgmeier)], L. iniquum (Mayr) [= bicolor (Forel) syn.nov. = dominicense (Wheeler) syn.nov. = fuscescens (Wheeler) syn.nov. = melleum (Wheeler) syn.nov. = nigellum (Emery) syn.nov. = succineum (Forel) syn.nov.], L. keiteli (Forel) [= subfaciatum (Wheeler \& Mann) syn.nov.], L. leucomelas (Emery) [= aspidocoptum (Kempf) syn.nov.], L. micans (Forel) stat.nov. [= platense (Forel) syn.nov. = scotti (Santschi) syn.nov.], L. oblongum (Santschi), L. piliferum (Mayr). Seven species are described as new: L. anathema sp.nov., L. aztecoides sp.nov., L. cerradense sp.nov., L. cryptobioticum sp.nov., L. neotropicum sp.nov., L. pulex sp.nov., \& L. tsachila sp.nov. Seventeen species are sorted into one of 4 groups associated with the species L. fuscum, L. humile, L. iniquum, or L. neotropicum, \& 2 species are left unassigned. New generic diagnoses are provided for worker, male, \& queen castes. Shattuck{\textquoteright}s (1992a) generic descriptions of the worker, male, \& queen castes are modified slightly to take into account expanded knowledge of character state variation. Worker \&, where known, male \& queen castes are described. Diagnoses, illustrations, \& keys are supplied for worker \& male castes. Discussions of variation, comparisons to similar species, \& nomenclatural issues are given for each species. Also included are synopses of life history traits such as queen number, colony structure, geographic distribution, nest site, habitat records, \& associations with parasitoid Pseudacteon flies (Diptera: Phoridae). Iridomyrmex humilioides = Linepithema humilioides= Gracilidris humilioides is excluded from Linepithema. Linepithema inacatum is incertae sedis in Linepithema.]}, author = {Wild, A.L.} } @article {3878, title = {A catalogue of the ants of Paraguay (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)}, journal = {Zootaxa}, volume = {1622}, year = {2007}, note = {Part of FORMIS 09; Part of the Leaf-Cutting Ant Bibliography; from Fire Ant Literature Database; from-DPW, }, month = {published: 26 Oc}, pages = {1-55}, abstract = {*[The ant communities of the Paran{\'a} River drainage in South America have spawned several major invasive species \& a number of cosmopolitan tramp species, including the fire ant Solenopsis invicta Buren \& the Argentine ant Linepithema humile (Mayr). Paraguay sits at the center of the Paran{\'a} drainage, but hosts one of the most poorly-documented ant faunas in the Neotropics, imposing a taxonomic impediment to ant studies in the region. In order to establish a baseline of knowledge about Paraguay{\textquoteright}s myrmecofauna, I surveyed 19 entomological collections \& the published literature for records of Paraguayan ants. The resulting catalogue lists 541 ant species, 423 of which could be associated with available names. The Chao-2 estimate of species richness, calculated from the incidence of uniques \& doubletons, estimates that the total ant species richness for Paraguay is 698 +/- 35, suggesting that the catalogue is about 80\% complete \& more than 100 species remain to be discovered. The Paraguayan ant fauna is characterized by many typical Neotropical elements, but shows low endemism, an elevated diversity of attine ants, and only 6 non-native species. No new taxa are described here, but 40 taxonomic changes are introduced to clean antiquated trinomials from the fauna. The history of Paraguayan myrmecology is discussed, \& a reference list is provided for species-level identifications.]}, author = {Wild, A.L.} } @mastersthesis {3852, title = {The distribution and ecology of invasive ant species in the Pacific Region}, year = {2007}, note = {Part of FORMIS 08; from Fire Ant Literature Database; from-DPW, }, school = {PhD thesis, in Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, xiii + 173 p.}, abstract = {*[This thesis examines the spatial distribution of invasive ant species at a range of scales. The focus is on the Pacific region, specifically Fiji and New Zealand, which have a relatively high number of invasive ant species. Checklist of invasive ant species recorded from the Pacific region are listed in Appendix 2.1. Checklist of ant taxa recorded from Fiji is given in Appendix 2.2. Endemic and invasive ant species recorded from New Zealand are listed in Table 5.2. A list of species intercepted in quarantine is included as Appendix 8.1. A better understanding of how climate variables directly and indirectly affect a species is needed to improve the utility of species distribution modeling. On a finer spatial scale, habitat partitioning was evident at Colo-i-Suva Park in Fiji, where distinct ant communities were sampled from litter and canopy habitats. Results suggested that body size, habitat and resource utilization interact to create opportunities for invasion, and influence the susceptibility of different habitats. Habitat also shaped the assembly of ant communities and mediated inter-specific competition in the Yasawa Islands, Fiji. Habitat was important in partitioning ant communities in New Zealand; endemic ant species were in forest, and invasive species in scrub and urban habitats. However, there was no evidence that inter-specific competition influenced community composition or the distribution of invasive ant species at regional or local scales in New Zealand. The extent \& diversity of exotic ant species arriving at the New Zealand border was also investigated. More than 64\% of intercepted ants originated from the Pacific. The effectiveness of detecting exotic ant species at the New Zealand border ranged from 48-78\% for different pathways, indicating a number of species remain undetected.]}, author = {Ward, D.F.} } @article {3788, title = {El Gen{\'e}ro Neotropical Brachymyrmex Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) en la Argentina. III. Redescripci{\'o}n de las especies: B. aphidicola Forel, de B. australis Forel y B. constrictus Santschi}, journal = {Neotropical Entomology}, volume = {36}, year = {2007}, note = {Part of FORMIS 08; from NAL{\textquoteright}S AGRICOLA; from-DPW, }, month = {Sept-Oct}, pages = {699-706}, abstract = {= The neotropical genus Brachymyrmex Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Argentina. III. redescription of species: B. aphidicola Forel, B. australis Forel B. constrictus Santschi.Three species of the genus Brachymyrmex: B. aphidicola Forel, (n.stat.); B. australis Forel y B. constrictus Santschi are redescribed hereafter. Descriptions and drawings of main morphological characters of gynes, males and workers are given. New characters are used to differentiate species, mainly based on male head morphology and genitalia. New Argentine localities are added to the known distribution.}, author = {Quir{\'a}n, E.} } @article {3793, title = {Individual experience alone can generate lasting division of labor in ants}, journal = {Current Biology}, volume = {17}, year = {2007}, note = {Part of FORMIS 08; from-DPW, }, month = {Aug 7}, pages = {1308-1312}, abstract = {SEE: Comment in: Curr. Biol. 2007 Sep 4; 17(17):R766-8.*[We show that ant workers engaged in distinct functions in accordance with their previous experience. When individuals were experimentally led to discover prey at each of their foraging attempts, they showed a high propensity for food exploration. Conversely, foraging activity progressively decreased for individuals who always failed in the same situation. One month later, workers that previously found prey kept on exploring for food, whereas those who always failed, specialized in brood care. Thus, it appears that individual experience can strongly channel the behavioral ontogeny of ants to generate a lasting division of labor.]}, author = {Ravary, F. and Lecoutey, E. and Kaminski, G. and Ch{\^a}line, N. and Jaisson, P.} } @article {3809, title = {Mating success and potential male-worker conflict in a male-dimorphic ant}, journal = {BMC Evolutionary Biology}, volume = {7:114}, year = {2007}, note = {Part of FORMIS 08; from-DPW, }, month = {10 July 2007}, pages = {8 p.}, abstract = {*[When the survival probability of males is taken into account, docile winged males are more likely to mate multiply and in consequence have a higher estimated average mating success than aggressive ergatoid males. Therefore, male larvae are expected to prefer developing into winged instead of ergatoid adults. Though male larvae can expect a higher average mating success when developing into winged males, most colonies produce only ergatoid males under standard conditions.]}, author = {Schrempf, A. and Darrouzet, E. and Heinze, J.} } @inbook {3754, title = {Identification of the species of Gnamptogenys Roger in the Americas}, year = {2007}, note = {Part of FORMIS 08; from-DPW, verified-DPW.}, pages = {254-270}, publisher = {Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute, vol. 80}, organization = {Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute, vol. 80}, address = {Gainesville, FL, 690 p.}, abstract = {*[A dichotomous key is presented for identifying workers of recent species of the genus Gnamptogenys in the Americas. Included are 81 species with their known distribution. G. wilsoni Lattke, n. sp., is described.]}, author = {Lattke, J.E. and Fern{\'a}ndez, F. and Palacio G., E.E.}, editor = {Snelling, R.R. and Fisher, B.L. and Ward, P.S.} } @article {3765, title = {Brachymyrmex patagonicus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), an emerging pest species in the southeastern United States}, journal = {Florida Entomologist}, volume = {90}, year = {2007}, note = {Part of FORMIS 08; from NAL{\textquoteright}s AGRICOLA; from-DPW, verified-DPW.}, month = {2007 Sept.}, pages = {457-464}, abstract = {*[Brachymyrmex patagonicus Mayr is a recently introduced species that is well established in the Gulf Coast region of the United States. This species is abundant in Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, \& Louisiana, \& has spread into other states. It has become a nuisance pest with occasional large infestations occurring in homes, hospitals, \& other businesses. Brief descriptions \& illustrations of all castes, biological importance, economic importance, \& known distribution in the United States are given.]}, author = {MacGown, J.A. and JoVonn G. Hill and Mark A. Deyrup} } @article {3742, title = {Body size, colony size, abundance, and ecological impact of exotic ants in Florida{\textquoteright}s upland ecosystems}, journal = {Evolutionary Ecology Research}, volume = {9}, year = {2007}, note = {Part of FORMIS 07; from NAL{\textquoteright}s AGRICOLA; from Fire Ant Literature Database; from-DPW, }, month = {July}, pages = {757-774}, abstract = {With hundreds of species established in new localities around the world, ants are an important, widely distributed, and growing group of exotic animals. The success of many established exotic ants is hypothesized to be related to competitive advantages associated with smaller workers and larger colonies relative to co-occurring native species. To evaluate this hypothesis, ant assemblages were thoroughly sampled across the range of upland ecosystems in north-central Florida, a region with one of the most diverse exotic ant faunae in the world. Patterns of species richness, abundance, worker body size, and colony size were compared among species and ecosystems. We found that exotic ants were neither abundant nor diverse in any of the undisturbed upland ecosystems. In disturbed field sites, exotic ants accounted for about 40\% of total ant abundance and 25\% of species richness. A total of 94 species, including 13 exotic species and 9 endemic species, were captured. The average body size of exotic ants was not obviously different from related native species. The average colony size of exotic ants was smaller than native species, with the exception of Solenopsis invicta which had the largest colony size of all species. Introduced ants (including S. invicta) were neither speciose nor abundant in any of the native woodland ecosystems. Florida{\textquoteright}s intact, native upland ecosystems appear to be resistant to invasion of exotic ant species despite the fact that surrounding disturbed habitats host a large diversity and abundance of introduced species. The prediction that exotic species have smaller workers than related native species was not supported.}, author = {King, J.R. and Porter, S.D.} } @inbook {3696, title = {The ants of El Hierro (Canary Islands)}, year = {2007}, note = {Part of FORMIS 08; from-DPW, verified-DPW.}, pages = {113-127}, publisher = {Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute, vol. 80}, organization = {Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute, vol. 80}, address = {Gainesville, FL, 690 p.}, abstract = {*[The list of ants of El Hierro, the smallest \& youngest of the Canary Islands, is updated: 21 species are listed with distribution data, with 7 considered as exotics, 12 species \& 6 genera are added to the myrmecofauna of El Hierro. Two endemic new species are described, Temnothorax bimbache sp.n., \& Monomorium wilsoni sp.n., \& Tetramorium depressum Forel is elevated to specific status, stat. nov. The provisionally-identified Plagiolepis maura population has the interesting characteristic of having apterous sexuals. The 7 ant species I consider as exotics on El Hierro are Cardiocondyla emeryi, Pheidole teneriffana, Tetramorium caldarium, Paratrechina longicornis, P. jaegerskioeldi, Tapinoma melanocephalum, \& Linepithema humile.]}, author = {Espadaler, X.}, editor = {Snelling, R.R. and Fisher, B.L. and Ward, P.S.} } @article {3677, title = {Polydomy in ants: what we know, what we think we know, and what remains to be done}, journal = {Biological Journal of the Linnean Society}, volume = {90}, year = {2007}, note = {Part of FORMIS 07; from NAL{\textquoteright}s AGRICOLA; from Fire Ant Literature Database; from-DPW, verified-DPW.}, month = {February 2007}, pages = {319-348}, abstract = {

The correct identification of colony boundaries is an essential prerequisite for empirical studies of ant behavior and evolution. Ant colonies function at various organizational levels, and these boundaries may be difficult to assess. Moreover, new complexity can be generated through the presence of spatially discrete subgroups within a more or less genetically homogeneous colony, a situation called polydomy. A colony is polydomous only if individuals (workers and brood) of its constituent nests function as a social and cooperative unit and are regularly interchanged among nests. This condition was previously called polycalic, and the term polydomy was used in a broader sense for a group of daughter nests of the same mother colony (implying limited female dispersal), without regard to whether these different nests continued to exchange individuals. We think that this distinction between \&$\#$39;polycaly\&$\#$39; and \&$\#$39;polydomy\&$\#$39; concerns two disparate concepts. We thus prefer the narrower definition of polydomy, which groups individuals that interact socially. Does this new level of organization affect the way in which natural selection acts on social traits? Here, after examining the history of terms, we review all ant species that have been described as expressing polydomous structures. We show that there is no particular syndrome of traits predictably associated with polydomy. We detail the existing theoretical predictions and empirical results on the ecology of polydomy, and the impact of polydomy on social evolution and investment strategies, while carefully distinguishing monogynous from polygynous species. Finally, we propose a methodology for future studies and offer ideas about what remains to be done.

}, author = {Debout, G. and Schatz, B. and Elias, M. and Mckey, D.} } @article {3684, title = {An acrobat ant, Crematogaster obscurata (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), poses an unusual conservation question in the Florida Keys}, journal = {Florida Entomologist}, volume = {90}, year = {2007}, note = {Part of FORMIS 08; from NAL{\textquoteright}s AGRICOLA; from-DPW, verified-DPW.}, pages = {753-754}, abstract = {*[A small population of the Neotropical Crematogaster obscurata has survived a series of hurricanes on West Summerland Key, Monroe County, Florida. The acrobat ant Crematogaster obscurata Emery was first discovered in the USA in 1995 \& reported in 2000 under the name of Crematogaster agnita. This is the only known U.S. population of this apparently innocuous species. If the exotic status \& limited range of the Florida population is confirmed, recommends eradication using insecticidal baits applied.]}, author = {Deyrup, M.} } @book {3689, title = {Ants of New Zealand}, year = {2007}, note = {Part of FORMIS 09; from-DPW, }, publisher = {Otago University Press}, organization = {Otago University Press}, address = {Dunedin}, abstract = {Cited from: Dann, M.J., 2008, Study in splitting the ant complex Monomorium antarcticum (Fr. Smith) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), M.S. thesis, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, vii + 88 p.}, author = {Don, W.} } @article {3643, title = {Behaviourally and genetically distinct populations of an invasive ant provide insight into invasion history and impacts on a tropical ant community}, journal = {Biological Invasions}, volume = {9}, year = {2007}, note = {Part of FORMIS 07; from NAL{\textquoteright}s AGRICOLA; from-DPW, verified-DPW.}, month = {June 2007}, pages = {453-463}, abstract = {Populations of invasive species often exhibit a high degree of spatial and temporal variability in abundance and hence their effects on resident communities. Here, we examine behavioral, genetic and environmental factors that influence variation in populations of the yellow crazy ant, Anoplolepis gracilipes, on the remote Nukunonu Atoll of Tokelau, Pacific Ocean. Behavioral assays revealed high levels of aggression between two groups of yellow crazy ants from different islands, and genetic analysis confirmed the presence of two distinct populations with unique mitochondrial (mt)DNA haplotypes, designated A and D. The two populations likely resulted from two separate invasion events. The populations exhibited significant differences in abundance of A. gracilipes, with a mean sevenfold difference in relative abundance between the two main haplotypes. The higher density haplotype D population coexisted with 50\% fewer other ant species and altered ant community composition. Vegetation composition was also significantly different on islands harbouring the two populations. The results suggest genetic differences could play a role in the spatial and temporal variation in the effect of the yellow crazy ant on a small oceanic atoll. We could not differentiate between genetic effects and effects of vegetation. However, our results indicate that spatial variability in behavior and impacts within populations of invasive species could be in part due to genetic differences, and play a substantial role in influencing the outcome of biological invasions.}, author = {Abbott, K.L. and Greaves, S.N.J. and Ritchie, P.A. and Lester, P.J.} } @article {3644, title = {Collapse of an ant-scale mutualism in a rainforest on Christmas Island}, journal = {Oikos}, volume = {116}, year = {2007}, note = {Part of FORMIS 07; from NAL{\textquoteright}s AGRICOLA; from-DPW, }, month = {July}, pages = {1238-1246}, abstract = {

Positive interactions play a widespread role in facilitating biological invasions. Here we use a landscape-scale ant exclusion experiment to show that widespread invasion of tropical rainforest by honeydew-producing scale insects on Christmas Island (Indian Ocean) has been facilitated by positive interactions with the invasive ant Anoplolepis gracilipes. Toxic bait was used to exclude A. gracilipes from large (9-35 ha) forest patches. Within 11 weeks, ant activity on the ground and on trunks had been reduced by 98-100\%, while activity on control plots remained unchanged. The exclusion of ants caused a 100\% decline in the density of scale insects in the canopies of three rainforest trees in 12 months (Inocarpus fagifer, Syzygium nervosum and Barringtonia racemosa), but on B. racemosa densities of scale insects also declined in control plots, resulting in no effect of ant exclusion on this species. This study demonstrates the role of positive interactions in facilitating biological invasions, and supports recent models calling for greater recognition of the role of positive interactions in structuring ecological communities.

}, author = {Abbott, K.L. and Green, P.T.} }