AN ANNOTATED LIST OF THE (: FORMICIDAE) FOUND IN FORT AND PISCATAWAY NATIONAL PARKS, MARYLAND

Theodore W. Suman

Principal Investigator

Theodore W. Suman, Ph.D. 7591 Polly's Hill Lane Easton, Maryland 21601 (410) 822 1204 [email protected] 'C ,:; ~) 71' 5 ?--- / I &, ·-1 U..~L:,

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AN ANNOTATED LIST OF THE ANTS (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) FOUNDINFORTWASHINGTONANDPISCATAWAYNATIONALPARKS, MARYLAND

Theodore W. Suman

The ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) listed in this report represent the results of a two-year (2002 - 2003) survey conducted in Fort Washington and Piscataway National Parks located in southwestern Prince Georges and northwestern Charles Counties, Maryland.

This survey is part of the National Parks Service effort to broaden knowledge of the occurring within the National Parks and was conducted under Permit # NACE-2002-SCI-0005 and Park-assigned Study Id. # NACE-00018.

Table 1 is the result of this survey and consists of an alphabetical list (by subfamily, , and ) of all of the species found in both Parks. Information on the number of specimens collected, caste, date collected, and habitat is also included. Table 2 lists species found in only one or the other of the two Parks.

General information on the collecting dates, collecting and extracting methods, and specific collecting sites is described below.

COLLECTING DATES

Collecting dates were spread throughout the spring to fall seasons of 2002 and 2003 to maximize the probability of finding all the species present. Collecting dates for each Park are listed separately.

FORT WASHINGTON

2002 -27 March; 2,23 April; 20 May; 21,23 August; 12,25 September 2003 - 8 May; 12,26 June

PISCATAWAY PARK

2002-9,16 April; 21 May; 24 June; 1 July 2003 - 20,30 May; 5 November 2

COLLECTING AND EXTRACTING METHODS

Specimens were collected on site by the following methods.

- A standard sweep net used both for sweeping vegetation and beating vegetation as high as could be reached.

- Hand sweeping about one square meter of leaf litter for later extraction of specimens in the lab.

- Pitfall traps using plastic drinking cups (15 cm. in dia.) with non-toxic antifreeze used for a preservative. The traps were left in place about one week.

- Hand collecting specimens from webs, dead leaves etc.

Extraction of specimens in the lab from leaf litter and other debris utilized Berlese funnels (15 watt light hung over the top) and Winkler mesh bags. The funnels and mesh bags operated for several days each until no more specimens were recovered.

COLLECTING SITES

The collecting sites selected represent many different types of habitats. The sites within each park are designated in Table 1 with the numbers I through 3 for Fort Washington and with numbers 4 through 7 for Piscataway Park. The specific habitats within each site are designated with letters.

FORT WASHINGTON

I. Southeastern part of the Park. Includes gravel service road beyond locked chain to BunkerB.

a. Open grass areas and young upland woods on west side of service road about halfway between the locked chain and Bunker B.

b. Deep gully adjacent to and north of Bunker B.

c. In, around and on top of Bunker B.

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2. Western part of Park near public fishing area and lighthouse. Includes grass area and woods adjacent to parking lot, around old brick building, and edge of Potomac River near lighthouse.

a. Beach and misc. debris used as bulk heading along Potomac River.

b. Debris around foundation of old brick building near river.

c. Young stand of trees about halfway between parking lot and river.

d. Vegetation (grass, trees, edge veg.) adjacent to parking lot.

3. Northeastern part of Park. Includes sites west of service road/trail that begins on right (north) just before entrance station to park and picnic area and adjacent woods on west side of site.

a. Wooded area and gully west of service road/trail. Located about 2/10 kilometer from locked chain at entrance along service road/trail.

b. Area of mowed grass and edge vegetation on west side of service road/trail about halfway between entrance to road and site 3a.

c. Grass area around picnic tables, adjacent woods, and gully in interior of woods. This site located on west side of site 3.

PISCATAWAY PARK

4. Mockley Point and adjacent Indian grounds.

a. Mockley Point. Includes agricultural field/meadow along dirt road leading to Mockley Point, and woods and beach area along Potomac River at end of dirt road.

b. Areas adjacent to Indian grounds. Includes dry and swampy woods on eastern side of Accokeek Creek.

5. Park on west side of Accokeek Creek. Includes meadows along access road, woods adjacent to parking lot, and western bank of Accokeek Creek near mouth and western end of boardwalk

a. Meadows on both sides of access road leading to parking lot.

b. Wooded bank along western side of Accokeek Creek near mouth.

c. Dry woods adjacent to parking lot between lot and Potomac River

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6. National Colonial Fann grounds.

a. Maintenance and storage buildings, and museum barn. Includes area around foundation of buildings, in buildings, and nearby young patch of woods and dry stream bed.

b. Area along Bluebird trail. Includes meadow just east of trail, woods just west of trail and in gully adjacent to trail.

7. Marshall Hall. Collecting sites located just northeast of end of entrance road.

a. Along Potomac River. Includes beach debris, and woody and herbaceous riparian vegetation.

b. Wooded area northeast of historic cemetery. Includes vegetation in bottom of wet gully, sides of gully and upland woods.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table 1 is a listing of all of the ant species found during this survey. Table 2 lists the species occurring in only one or the other of the two Parks.

A total of 37 species belonging to 23 genera and 4 subfamilies were found. For comparison, Lynch (see Ref.) found 60 species with the expectation of 102 species occurring in the Chesapeake Bay region. Lynch's study is the result of an intensive multi­ year effort at the large 1,000 ha Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) south of Annapolis, Maryland. A recent survey of the literature for the District of Columbia metro area indicates the potential of 131 ant species occurring in this region (see Ref for the Georgetown Univ. biodiversity web site).

The species listed in this report include representatives of all 4 subfamilies and 23 of the 29 general found by Lynch.

No threatened, endangered or invasive species such as the Argentine ant or the fire ant were found during this survey. Most of the species found are fairly common and should not require any special conservation measures beyond maintaining the Parks in at least their present condition.

One species, emeryi W.M. Wheeler, was found in shoreline debris along the Potomac River near the lighthouse in Fort Washington and represents a new record for Maryland. First described from Japan, this species was found in the Rock Creek Park area of the District of Columbia (Holldobler & Wilson 1990: p.66). Specimens are in the Smithsonian NMNH collection. This species has also been found recently in the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve in Virginia (Dan Kjar, pers. comm.. )

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Most species of ants in this region are known to nest either in the ground or in ground litter (leaves, rotten wood etc.). Consequently, most of the effort during this survey was on sampling these types of habitats. A thorough search of the canopy layer may reveal other species and foraging individuals not found at ground level. Collecting in the canopy layer however requires more specialized equipment and methods not available during this survey.

TABLE 1

Table 1 is an alphabetical list (by subfamily, genus and species) of all of the ant species found in both Parks during this survey. Following the name of each species is information on:

1. The total number and caste of the specimens collected (w. = worker, m. = male, f. = queen).

2. The National Park Service catalog numbers (FOWA ..... = Fort Washington, PISC ..... = Piscataway Park).

3. Site(s) and date(s) represent specifically where the specimens were collected within the Parks and the day(s) and month(s) when the specimens were collected.

4. The habitat of the specimen and the method of collecting/extracting.

DOLICHODERINAE

Dolichoderus pustulatus Mayr; 1 w.; PISC 21440 Site - 5b; 2002 - 1 July Habitat - sweeping along boardwalk at Accokeek Creek

Tapinoma sessile (Say); 133 w. 's; 1 m. FOWA - 13626; PISC - 21441 Sites - la, lb, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b; 2002 -21 May; 1 July; 12,25 Sept. Habitat - litter in woods, gully, meadow, along trails dead leaves, around hidings; Berlese, Winkler, pitfall traps

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FORMICINAE

Brachymyrmex debilis Emery; 113 w. 's FOWA-13627; PISC-21442 Sites - 2b, 5b; 2003 - 30 May; 26 June Habitat - litter around blding, bank of Accokeek Creek; Berlese

Camponotus americana Mayr; 37 w. 's FOWA- 13628; PISC-21443 Sites - la, lb, le, 2a, 2d, 3a, 3c, 4b, 5c, 6b, 7a 2002 - 9,16,23 April; 1 July; 12,25 Sept. 2003 - 8-20 May; 12,26 June; 5 Nov. Habitat- litter in woods, gully, open areas, around hidings, along shore of Potomac River; Berlese, pitfall traps sweeping

Camponotus ferrugineus (Fabricius ); 17 w. 's FOWA-13629; PISC-21444 Sites - 1a, 2a, 2d, 3a, 5c, 6b 2002 - 1 July; 12 Aug.; 12 Sept. 2003 - 8-20,20-30 May; 26 June Habitat - litter in woods, gully, dead leaves, along shore of Potomac River; pitfall traps, sweeping

Camponotus pennsylvanicus (De Geer); 5 w.'s FOWA-13630; PISC-21445 Sites - 2a, 7a; 2003 - 26 June; 5 Nov. Habitat - litter along shore of Potomac River; Berlese

Formica pallidefulva Latreille; 21 w. 's FOWA-13631; PISC-21446 Sites - la, 3c, 4a, 5a, 6b 2002 - 16 April; 21 May; 1 July; 12 Sept. 2003 - 20,20-30 May; 12 June Habitat - litter in woods, open areas, meadow, along trail; Berlese pitfall traps, sweeping

Formica subsericea Say; 153 w. 's FOWA-13632;PISC-21447 Sites - 2d, 3a, 4a, 4b, 6b 2002 - 2,9, 16 April; 21 May 2003 - 20,20-30 May; 26 June Habitat - litter in woods, gully, meadow, along trails, along Potomac River; Berlese, Winkler, pitfall traps, sweeping

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Lasius alienus (Foerster); 972 w. 's, 3 f's FOWA - 13633; PISC - 21448 Sites - la, lb, le, 2a, 2d, 3c, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 5c, 6a, 6b 2002- 9,16,23 April; 21 May; 12,25 Sept. 2003 - 20-30, 30 May; 12,26 June Habitat - litter in woods, gully, meadow, debris around hidings, shore of Potomac River; Berlese, Winkler, pitfall traps, sweeping

Lasius umbratus (Nylander); 12 w.'s PISC-21449 Sites - 4a, 5a, 5c, 6b; 2002 - 9, 16 April; I July Habitat - litter in woods, gully, meadow, dead leaves; Berlese, pitfall traps

Paratrechinafaisonensis (Forel); 531 w.'s; 19 m.'s; 14 f's FOWA- 13635; PISC-21450 Sites - 1a, 1b, I c, 2a, 2b, 3a, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 6a, 6b 2002- 9,16 April; 21 May; 24 June; 1 July; 12,25 Sept. 2003 - 20,20-30,30 May; 26 June Habitat - litter in woods, gully, around hidings, dead leaves, beach debris; Berlese, Winkler, pitfall traps, sweeping

Prenolepsis imparis (Say); 411 w. 's FOWA - 13636; PISC - 21451 Sites - I a, I b, 2a, 3a, 3c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 6b 2002- 27 March; 2,9,16,23 April; 21 May; 12,25 Sept. 2003 - 8-20,20,20-3-,30 May; 12,26 June Habitat - litter in woods, gully, around hidings, along Potomac River; Berlese, Winkler, pitfall traps, sweeping

MYRMICINAE

Aphaenogaster fulva Roger; 28 w. 's FOWA-13637;PISC-21452 Sites - lb, le, 2a, 2b, 2c, 3a, 5c, 6a 2002 - 23 April; 21 May; 24 June; 1 July; 12 Sept. 2003- 8 May; 26 June Habitat - litter in woods, gully, debris along hidings, beaches; Berlese, Winkler

Aphaenogaster lamellidens Mayr; 1 w. PISC-21453 Site - 4b; 2002 - 21 May Habitat - rotten wood

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Aphaenogaster rudis (Emery); 900 w. 's; 3 f. 's FOWA-13638; PISC-21454 Sites - la, lb, le, 2c, 3a, 3c, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 5c, 6a, 6b, 7b 2002- 27 March; 2,9,16,23 April; 21 May; 24 June; 1 July; 12,25 Sept. 2003 - 8,8-20,20,20-30,30 May; 12,26 June; 5 Nov. Habitat - litter in woods, gully, around bldings, dead leaves, beach debris, meadow, bank of Accokeek Creek; Berlese, Winkler, pitfall traps

Crematogaster cerasi (Fitch); 7 w. 's FOWA 13639; PISC-21455 Sites - le, 2d, 6a; 2002 - 25 Sept.; 2003 - 20-30 May; 26 June Habitat - veg. around Bunker B, edge of parking lot; sweeping

Crematogaster lineolata (Say); 15 w.'s PISC-21456 Sites - 4a, 5a; 2002 - 21 May; 1 July Habitat - meadow, beach debris; Berlese, pitfall traps, sweeping

Crematogaster pilosa Emery; 33 w. 's PISC-21457 Sites-4a, 5b, 6a; 2002- 16 April; 21 May; 2003 - 30 May Habitat - litter in woods, around hidings, dead leaves, along bank of Accokeek Creek; Berlese, Winkler, sweeping

Leptothorax curvispinosus Mayr; 673 w. 's; 1 f. FOWA-13640; PISC-21458 Sites - 1a, 1b, 1c, 2b, 2c, 2d, 3a, 3c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 6b 2002-27 March; 2,9,16 April; 21 May; 24 June; 1 July; 12,25 Sept. 2003 - 8,20,30 May; 12,26 June; 5 Nov. Habitat- litter in woods, gully, around hidings, beach debris, rotten wood; Berlese, Winkler, pitfall traps, sweeping

Leptothorax pergandei Emery; 2 w. 's PISC 21459 Site - 4a; 2002 - 16 April; 21 May Habitat - litter in woods; Berlese, Winkler 9

Monomorium minimum (Buckley); 44 w. 's FOWA-13641; PISC-21460 Sites - la, le, 3c, 4a, 5a, 6b, 7a 2002-21 May; 24 June; 1 July; 12,25 Sept. 2003 - 20 May; 12 June; 5 Nov. Habitat- meadow, around bldings, in woods, edge veg., along trails, veg. along Potomac River; Berlese, pitfall traps sweepmg

Myrmecina americana Emery; 284 w. 's; 20 f. 's FOWA - 13642; PISC - 21461 Sites - la, lb, 2b, 2c, 3a, 3c, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c, 6a, 6b, 7b 2002-27 March; 2,9,16,23 April; 21 May; 24 June; 1 July; 12,25 Sept. 2003 - 8,8-20,20-30,30 May; 12,26 June; 5 Nov. Habitat - litter in woods, gully, around bldings, along bank of Accokeek Creek; Berlese, Winkler, pitfall traps

Myrmica americana Weber; 2 w. 's PISC-21462 Site - 6b; 2002 - 20-30 May Habitat - pitfall trap in meadow

Myrmica punctiventris Roger; 1 w. PISC-21463 Site - 4b; 2002 - 21 May Habitat - litter in swampy woods; Berlese

Pyramica ohioensis (Kennedy & Schramm); 100 w.'s; 6 f. 's FOWA-13643; PISC-21464 Sites - la, 3a, 3c, 4a, 5c, 6a, 6b, 7b 2002 - 27 March; 21 May; 1 July 2003 - 8,20 May; 12 June; 5 Nov. Habitat- litter in woods, gully, beach debris; Berlese, Winkler

Pyramica ornata (Mayr); 55 w.'s; 3 f.'s FOWA- 13644; PISC-21465 Sites - la, 2a, 2b, 2c, 3a, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5c 2002-27 March; 16 April; 21 May; 1 July 2003 - 8,30 May; 26 June Habitat - litter in woods, around hidings, bank of Accokeek Creek; Berlese, Winkler

9 Pyramica rostrata (Emery); 670 w. 's; 26 f's FOWA-13645; PISC-21466 Sites - la, lb, 2c, 3a, 4b, 5c, 6a, 6b 2002- 27 March; 2,9,16,23 April; 21 May; 24 June; 25 Sept. 2003 - 8,8-20,20, May; 12,26 June Habitat - litter in woods, gully, debris along biding; Berlese, Winkler, pitfall traps

Solenopsis molesta (Say); 38 w. 's FOWA- 13646; PISC-21467 Sites- la, 4a, 5a; 2002- 21 May; 24 June; 12 Sept. Habitat-litter in woods, gully, along bank of Accokeek Creek; Berlese, Winkler, sweeping

Stenamma brevicorne (Mayr); 86 w.'s FOWA-13647;PISC-21468 Sites - la, lb, 3a, 4a, 4b, 5b, 6b, 7b 2002-27 March; 2,9,16,23 April; 21 May 2003 - 8,20,30 May; 5 Nov. Habitat- litter in woods, gully, along bank of Accokeek Creek Berlese, Winkler, pitfall traps

Stenamma impar Forel; 162 w.'s; 1 f FOWA-13648; PISC-21469 Sites - la, lb, 2c, 3a, 3c, 4a, 4b, 5c, 6b, 7b 2002-27 March; 2,9,16,23 April; 21 May; 24 June; 12 Sept. 2003 - 8,8-20,20 May; 12,26 June; 5 Nov. Habitat - litter in woods, gully; Berlese, Winkler, pitfall traps

Stenamma schmittii W.M. Wheeler; 42 W. 's FOWA- 13649; PISC- 21470 Sites - la, lb, 3a, 3c, 6b; 2002-27 March; 2,9,23 April 2003 - 8,8-20 May; 12 June Habitat - litter in woods, gully; Berlese, Winkler, pitfall traps

Tetramorium caespitum (Linne); 16 w. 's; 3 m. 's FOWA-13650; PISC-21471 Sites - 1c, 2a, 6b; 2002 - 2 April; 25 Sept. 2003 - 20-30 May; 26 June Habitat-litter on top of Bunker B, meadow, cement pad around drinking fountain; Berlese, pitfall trap

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Vollenhovia emeryi W.M. Wheeler; 24 w. 's FOWA-13651 Site - 2a; 2003 - 26 June Habitat - debris along shore of Potomac River; Berlese

PONERINAE

Amblyopone pallipes (Haldeman); 16 w.'s; 3 f.'s FOWA-13652; PISC-21472 Sites - la, 3a, 3c, 6b; 2002 - 27 March; 9 April; 12 Sept. 2003 - 8,8-20,20 May; 12 June Habitat- litter in woods, gully; Berlese, Winkler, pitfall traps

Hypoponera opacior (Forelt 2 w. 's; 3 f. 's FOWA-13653; PISC-21473 Sites- le, 2b, 5a, 6a; 2002- 21 May; 24 June; 1 July; 25 Sept; 26 June Habitat- litter in and around hay storage biding., meadow, on top of Bunker B; Berlese, pitfall traps, sweeping

Ponera pennsylvanica (Buckley); 416 w. 's; 37 f. 's FOWA-13654; PISC-21474 Sites- la, lb, 2a, 2b, 2c, 3a, 3c, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5c, 6a, 6b 2002-27 March; 2,9,16,23 April; 21 May; 24 June; 1 July; 12,25 Sept. 2003 - 8,20,20-30,30 May; 12,26 June Habitat- litter in woods, gully, meadow, in and around hidings, debris along Potomac River, Accokeek Creek, rotten wood; Berlese, Winkler, pitfall traps

Proceratium croceum (Roger); IO w.'s; 2 f.'s FOWA-13655; PISC-21475 Sites - 2c, 3a, 3c, 4a, 6b 2002 - 2, 16 April 2003 - 8,20 May; 12,26 June Habitat - litter in woods, gully; Berlese, Winkler

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TABLE2

The following ant species were found in only one or the other of the two Parks.

FORT WASHINGTON

Myrmicinae W.M. Wheeler

PISCATAWAY PARK

Dolichoderinae pustulatus Mayr

Formicinae Lasius umbratus (Nylander)

Myrmicinae Aphaenogaster lamellidens Mayr Crematogaster lineolata (Say) Crematogaster pilosa Emery Leptothorax pergandei Emery Myrmica americana Weber .Myrmica punctiventris Roger

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks are due to Brent W. Steury of the National Park Service, members of the Smithsonian Institution's Small Mammal Team, and personnel of the National Colonial Farm for ant specimens they collected.

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REFERENCES

Genus and species identifications were made with keys in the following two publications.

- Bolton, B. 1994. Identification Guide to the Ant Genera of the World. Harvard Univ. Press. Cambridge, Mass. 222 pp.

- Lynch, J. F. 1987. An Annotated Checklist and Key to the Species of of Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Chesapeake Bay Region Maryland Naturalist 31(3-4): 61 - 105.

Other sources consulted for species either actually or potentially occurring in Maryland.

- Bolton, B. 1995. A New General Catalogue of the Ants of the World. Harvard Univ. Press, Cambridge, Mass. 504 pp.

- Creighton, W. S. 1950. The Ants of North America. Mus. Comp. Zool. Bull. 104: 1 - 585.

- Holldobler, B. and E. 0. Wilson. 1990. The Ants. Belknap Press of Harvard Univ. Press, Cambridge, Mass. 732 pp. (p. 66, taxonomic couplet no. 31 - reference to Vollenhovia emeryi occurring in the District of Columbia).

- http://biodiversity. georgetown. edu/searchfiles/infosearch. ctm ?view =all&idnumber=997. (lists ant species which may be found in the District of Columbia metro area)

- Smith, D.R. 1979. Superfamily Formicoidea. pp. 1323 - 1467. (in: Krombein, K. V., P. D. Hurd, D. R. Smith and B. D. Burks. Catalog of North American Hymenoptera, vol. 2: Apocrita (aculeata). Smithsonian Inst. Press, Washington, D. C. )

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