03043nas a2200253 4500008004100000245013900041210006900180260001600249300001400265490000600279520227700285653002402562653001802586653001402604653002002618653001302638653001502651653001202666100001602678700001602694700001702710700001602727856004602743 2014 eng d00aFirst record of a species from the New World Pheidole flavens-complex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) introduced to the southwestern Pacific0 aFirst record of a species from the New World Pheidole flavenscom cJan-11-2014 a301 - 3070 v33 a
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.
10abiological invasion10aInvasive ants10aMelanesia10aPacific islands10aPheidole10aTramp ants10aVanuatu1 aSarnat, E M1 aRabeling, C1 aEconomo, E P1 aWilson, E O uhttp://dx.doi.org/10.3391/bir.2014.3.4.1300404nam a2200109 4500008004100000245006600041210006400107260004400171300001500215100001600230856004800246 2003 eng d00aPheidole of the New World: A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus0 aPheidole of the New World A dominant hyperdiverse ant genus aCambridge, MAbHarvard University Press a[ix] + 7941 aWilson, E O uhttps://antkey.myspecies.info/id/node/3349200347nam a2200121 4500008004100000245001300041210000900054260006500063300001400128100001900142700001600161856004800177 1990 eng d00aThe ants0 aants aCambridge, Mass.bHarvard University PresscPublished: 28 Ma axii + 7321 aHölldobler, B1 aWilson, E O uhttps://antkey.myspecies.info/id/node/2787200412nas a2200121 4500008004100000245005800041210005100099260002100150300001000171490000800181100001600189856008500205 1955 eng d00aA monographic revision of the ant genus Lasius0 amonographic revision of the ant genus iLasiusi cPublished: Mar 1 a1-2010 v1131 aWilson, E O uhttps://antkey.myspecies.info/id/content/monographic-revision-ant-genus-ilasiusi00511nas a2200121 4500008004100000245010900041210006900150260001300219300001200232490000800244100001600252856012100268 1957 eng d00aThe tenuis and selenophora groups of the ant genus Ponera (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)0 aitenuis iand iselenophora igroups of the ant genus iPonera iHyme cMay 1957 a355-3860 v1161 aWilson, E O uhttps://antkey.myspecies.info/id/content/itenuis-iand-iselenophora-igroups-ant-genus-iponera-ihymenoptera-formicidae00689nas a2200133 4500008004100000245007100041210006600112260002100178300001000199490000700209520021900216100001600435856010400451 1960 eng d00aCommunication by tandem running and ant genus Cardiocondyla0 aCommunication by tandem running and ant genus iCardiocondylai cPublished: 08 Se a29-340 v663 a[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]1 aWilson, E O uhttps://antkey.myspecies.info/id/content/communication-tandem-running-and-ant-genus-icardiocondylai02249nas a2200145 4500008004100000245012100041210006900162260001300231300001200244490000700256520167400263100001601937700001501953856013501968 1985 eng d00aBehavior of the cryptobiotic predaceous ant Eurhopalothrix heliscata, n. sp. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Basicerotini)0 aBehavior of the cryptobiotic predaceous ant Eurhopalothrix helis cApr 1985 a408-4280 v313 a1. 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).1 aWilson, E O1 aBrown, Jr. uhttps://antkey.myspecies.info/id/content/behavior-cryptobiotic-predaceous-ant-eurhopalothrix-heliscata-n-sp-hymenoptera-formicidae00795nas a2200145 4500008004100000245005200041210004500093260002100138300001000159490000700169520035800176100001600534700001600550856008300566 1967 eng d00aThe ants of Polynesia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)0 aants of Polynesia Hymenoptera Formicidae cPublished: 15 Au a1-1090 v143 a*[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.]1 aWilson, E O1 aTaylor, R W uhttps://antkey.myspecies.info/id/content/ants-polynesia-hymenoptera-formicidae