Exotic Ants of Mississippi, Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry
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Exotic Ants of Mississippi Bulletin 1229 • May 2021 Exotic Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Mississippi Joe A. MacGown Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology Mississippi State University Research Technician/Scientific Illustrator Richard L. Brown Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology Mississippi State University W. L. Giles Distinguished Professor JoVonn G. Hill Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology Mississippi State University Assistant Research Professor Ryan Whitehouse Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology Mississippi State University Research Associate I James G. Lewis Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology Mississippi State University Research Associate I This publication is based on work supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture under Hatch project MIS-311260. Funding for ant research also has been obtained from NSF Grants BSR-9024810 and DEB-9200856, the Tombigbee National Forest (U.S. Forest Service), the Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge, Mississippi Natural Heritage Program Research Grant, USDA Forest Service Agreement No. 08-99-07- CCS-010, the William H. Cross Expedition Fund, and primarily by the USDA-ARS Areawide Management of Imported Fire Ant and Areawide Management of Invasive Ants Projects. Additionally, special cooperation has been provided by State Parks, National Forests, National Wildlife Refuges, the Natchez Trace Parkway, and from various private landowners in the Southeast. This document was approved for publication as Bulletin 1229 of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station. It was published by the Office of Agricultural Communications, a unit of the Mississippi State University Division of Agriculture, Forestry, and Veterinary Medi- cine. Copyright 2021 by Mississippi State University. All rights reserved. This publication may be copied and distributed without alteration for nonprofit educational purposes provided that credit is given to the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station. Table of Contents Abstract . .1 Introduction . .1 Methods and Materials . .3 List of the Exotic Ant Species in Mississippi . .10 Exotic Ant Species Found in Mississippi . .11 Brachymyrmex obscurior Forel . .11 Brachymyrmex patagonicus Mayr . .13 Brachyponera chinensis Emery . .16 Camponotus planatus Roger . .19 Camponotus cf. tortuganus Emery . .22 Cardiocondyla wroughtonii (Forel) . .25 Cyphomyrmex rimosus (Spinola) . .28 Gnamptogenys triangularis (Mayr) . .31 Hypoponera opaciceps (Mayr) . .34 Hypoponera punctatissima (Roger) . .37 Linepithema humile (Mayr) . .40 Monomorium floricola (Jerdon) . .43 Monomorium pharaonis (Linnaeus) . .46 Nylanderia fulva (Mayr) . .49 Odontomachus haematodus (Linnaeus) . .52 Paratrechina longicornis (Latreille) . .56 Pheidole navigans Forel (= moerens Wheeler of Auck.) . .59 Pheidole obscurithorax Naves . .64 Pseudomyrmex gracilis (Fabricius) . .67 Solenopsis invicta Buren . .70 Solenopsis richteri Forel . .74 Strumigenys epinotalis Weber . .77 Strumigenys hexamera (Brown) . .80 Strumigenys margaritae Forel . .83 Strumigenys membranifera Emery . .86 Strumigenys silvestrii Emery . .89 Tapinoma melanocephalum (Fabricius) . .92 Tetramorium bicarinatum (Nylander) . .95 Tetramorium immigrans Santschi . .98 Tetramorium lanuginosum Mayr . .101 Literature Cited . .103 Exotic Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Mississippi ABSTRACT Introductions of exotic organisms have become commonplace worldwide, in large part due to extensive global trade. When conditions are favorable, introduced species can become established in new regions, and in some cases become invasive. In the U.S., the Southeastern region has been particularly susceptible to successful estab- lishment of exotic ant species, which may be related to the numerous oceanic ports in the region and suitable climatic conditions for tropical and subtropical species to thrive. To date, 69 exotic ant species are now estab- lished in the Southeast. Faunal surveys in Mississippi predating 2001, by Marion Smith and other researchers, recorded only eight exotic ant species. Since 2001, Mississippi Entomological Museum (MEM) faunistic surveys have recorded an additional 22 species of exotic ants to the known fauna of the state. These 30 introduced ant species are native to many regions, including Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. In this bulletin, we present descriptions, photographs, natural history information, economic importance, and distribu- tion maps for each exotic ant species in Mississippi. INTRODUCTION Due to increased global commerce and other factors, for many tropical and subtropical ant species to thrive. Their introductions of exotic ant species (also referred to as alien, spread may be further expanded as a result of global introduced, or nonnative species) have become common- warming. Several exotic species formerly known to occur in place. For example, Suarez et al. (2005) reported that 232 the U.S. only in southern Florida are now established in species of ants were intercepted at U.S. ports of entry from southern Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi. 1927 to 1985. Although many species are successfully inter- Entry points are a huge factor, and with a large percentage cepted at these ports by customs officials, some species of the oceanic ports in the continental U.S. being located manage to “slip through the cracks.” Of course, due to a from North Carolina to Texas (aapa-ports.org), it’s no variety of reasons, such as unsuitable climate or habitat, lack surprise that numerous exotic species have become estab- of food resources, and other reasons, not all species that are lished in the region. Once introduced, exotic species may introduced into a new region become established. However, increase their range by natural dispersal, or with the inadver- if conditions are suitable, they may thrive. Nowhere in the tent aid of humans. Typical means of transport are by trains U.S. is this more evident than in the Southeast, where 69 and automobiles, in nursery stock, mulch, firewood, and hay species of exotic ants have been reported (MacGown 2020). bales, and through other similar mechanisms. The high number of exotic species present in the South- Florida, with its warm climatic conditions and extensive east is likely due to a combination of factors, but especially coastlines, boasts the highest number of exotic ant species of the moderate climate and numerous ports of entry in the any state with 64. The number of exotic ant species in region. The climate in parts of the Southeast is well suited nearby states Alabama (29), Louisiana (26), Georgia (22), Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station 1 and Mississippi (30) are lower but still higher than most difficult to measure for minute, cryptic species. Other other states (MacGown 2019). species have been serious pests in this region for many The negative impacts, if any, of exotic ants are difficult years: imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta, S. richteri, the to quantify after the ants become established in a new hybrid fire ant Solenopsis invicta X richteri; the Argentine region. In many cases, exotic species that become estab- ant, Linepithema humile; and pharaoh ants, Monomorium lished in a region simply expand their ranges into new areas pharaonis (Linnaeus). The tawny crazy ant, Nylanderia with little notice from humans unless the insects happen to fulva (Mayr), considered a serious invasive species in Texas be pests. Studies on nonpest exotic species are few, and they and Florida, was first discovered in Mississippi in 2009 typically do not address potential impacts on native ecosys- (MacGown and Layton 2010) and is now well established tems. However, a subset of established exotic species is in several coastal localities. The minute dark rover ant, considered “invasive” because they have negative effects on Brachymyrmex patagonicus Mayr, has rapidly increased it human households and health, the economy, and agricul- range in Mississippi and throughout much of the Southeast ture, and they may disrupt natural ecosystems (Ward et al. and west to California in a remarkably short time 2008). The economic impact alone of some of these species (MacGown et al. 2007). Several other recently reported is huge. Baseline monitoring of exotic species is useful to species from Mississippi have potential for becoming inva- ascertain species presence, population levels, distributions, sive in the state including the Asian needle ant, Brachy- geographic spread, potential negative impacts, and dispersal ponera chinensis Emery; the snap-jaw ant, Odontomachus methods. haematodus (Linnaeus); the longhorn crazy ant, Para- Exotic ant species found thus far in Mississippi are trechina longicornis (Latreille); big headed ants, Pheidole native to Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Europe, Greater Antilles, navigans Forel and P. obscurithorax Naves; the graceful the Indo-Pacific region, Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and twig ant, Pseudomyrmex gracilis (Fabricius); the ghost ant, Southeast Asia. However, a large percentage of the exotic Tapinoma melanocephalum (Fabricius); and the pavement species in Mississippi appear to have entered the state from ant, Tetramorium immigrans Santschi. other parts of the Southeast, rather than from their native The impacts of invasive species on natural ecosystems regions. are poorly known. In disturbed areas of coastal Mississippi, In