@article {33519, title = {Introduced Pheidole of the world: taxonomy, biology and distribution}, journal = {ZooKeys}, volume = {543}, year = {2015}, month = {Sep-12-2015}, pages = {1 - 109}, abstract = {

The objective of this study is to provide a detailed taxonomic resource for identifying and studying ants in the genus Pheidole that have established beyond their native ranges. There is an increasing need for systematists to study taxa of specific concern to 21st century environmental, food security and public health challenges. Systematics has an important role to play in both the theoretical and applied disciplines of invasion biology. Few invaders impact terrestrial ecosystems more than ants. Among the world\’s 100 worst invasive species is the cosmopolitan and highly destructive Pheidole megacephala (Fabricius). Accurate identification of P. megacephala is imperative for the success of screening, management and eradication programs designed to protect native ecosystems from the impacts of this destructive species. However, accurate identification of Pheidole species is difficult because of their taxonomic diversity, dimorphic worker caste and lack of taxonomic resources. We include illustrated keys along with the taxonomic history, taxonomic diagnoses, biological notes and risk statements for the 14 most invasive members of the genus. Global distribution maps based on over 14,000 specimen and literature records are presented for each species. These results of this work will facilitate identification of pest species, determination of climatic and habitat requirements, discovery of pest origins, horizon scanning and assessment of invasion pathways. The following new synonym is proposed, with the senior synonym listed first and the junior synonyms in parentheses: Pheidole indica Mayr (= P. teneriffana Forel, and its synonyms P. taina Aguayo and P. voeltzkowii Forel). Pheidole navigans Forel stat. rev., stat. nov. is removed from synonymy and elevated to species rank. We propose that records of P. moerens Forel outside of the Mesoamerica and the Caribbean refer instead to P. navigans or other heterospecific taxa in the P. flavens species complex. We propose that the names P. anastasii Emery and P. floridana Emery have been widely misapplied to North American outdoor records of P. bilimeki Mayr. We propose that the synonymy of P. lauta Wheeler be transferred from P. floridana Emery to P. bilimeki Mayr.

}, keywords = {applied systematics, big-headed ant, identification key, Invasive ants, Invasive species, Lucid key, Pheidole megacephala, port of entry, Species distribution models}, issn = {1313-2989}, doi = {10.3897/zookeys.543.6050}, url = {http://zookeys.pensoft.net/articles.php?id=6050}, author = {Sarnat, Eli М. and Fischer, Georg and Gu{\'e}nard, Benoit and Economo, Evan P.} } @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.} }