Invasive pest risk assessment project: overview

Harris, R.

This invasive ant risk assessment project, prepared for Biosecurity by Landcare Research, presents informa- tion on both the ant that occur in New Zealand and those that pose a potential threat. The assessment project has five sections.

1) The of New Zealand (Warwick Don, Richard Harris, Jo Berry, and Disna Gunawardana) Information sheets (see full list in Appendix 1) provide a checklist and details of the native and adventive ants of New Zealand, and identify those species that have previously been reported from New Zealand, but which we consider not to be present currently, due either to original misidentification or to failed establishment. Two species, Pheidole proxima and Monomorium sp. (fieldi or leave), which have only established very recently, are included in the checklist but are yet to have information sheets prepared.

2) Preliminary invasive ant risk assessment (Richard Harris) A risk assessment scorecard was developed to quantify the threat to New Zealand of a range of ant species, and aid selection of those worthy of more detailed assessment. 75 taxa were scored and grouped into high, medium, or low threats. A summary was prepared for each taxa, outlining why it was considered for assessment, and the mitigating factors that affect its risk to New Zealand.

3) Information sheets on invasive ant threats (Richard Harris, Margaret Stanley, Jo Berry, Kirsti Abbott, and Kerry Barton) Information sheets were prepared for all taxa that were scored as medium- or high-risk threats to New Zealand (see full list in Appendix 2). Information sheets contain: • Taxonomic category • Common name(s) • Synonyms and acronym • A general description (including identification, behavioural and biological characteristics) • Global distribution (including map) • History of spread • Justification for inclusion. INVASIVE ANT PEST RISK ASSESSMENT PROJECT: Overview

4) Pest risk assessments (Richard Harris, Kirsti Abbott, and Phil Lester) A detailed pest risk assessment was prepared for the eight species ranked as having the highest potential risk to New Zealand in the “Preliminary invasive ant risk assessment”. These assessments review known information on the ant and interpret this information in the context of the risk and consequences of establishment in New Zealand. Species assessed were: • Anoplolepis gracilipes • Lasius neglectus • Monomorium destructor • Paratrechina longicornis • Solenopsis geminata • Solenopsis richteri • Tapinoma melanocephalum • Wasmannia auropunctata

Each pest risk assessment contains information under the following sections: • Pest information • Likelihood of entry • Likelihood of establishment • Likelihood of spread after establishment • The environmental, human health and economic consequences of introduction • Likelihood and consequences analysis

5) Ranking of high risk species (Richard Harris) The eight species for which a detailed pest risk assessment was prepared were ranked. The risks of entry, establishment, spread, and detrimental consequences were each assigned a score from 1 (low risk) to 3 (high risk) for each ant. The scores are compared with two species already established in New Zealand, Linepithema humile (a relatively widespread and abundant pest) and Pheidole megacephala (restricted in distribution and not currently considered a significant pest). Comparison was also made to Solenopsis invicta, which is widely recognized as a significant threat to New Zealand and other countries in Oceania and for which a risk assessment had already been conducted before this project. Although the ranking exercise was subjective, it highlights some key points on the relative risk of these species.

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Availability of information One aim of this project is to make the information widely available to aid biosecurity in New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific. All components of the project will eventually be available online at: http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/research/ biosecurity/stowaways/ants.asp.

Acknowledgements Pulling together this project has been a huge team effort. In addition to those primarily responsible for the various compo- nent of the project (listed above) others have been involved. Kerry Barton has assisted throughout with formatting and getting information onto the Landcare Research website. Anne Sutherland has provided GIS assistance with ant distribu- tion and freight pathways map. Jo Rees has helped source and keep track of the hundreds of references cited, and has also extracted distribution reports from them for the invasive ant database. Richard Toft has tracked down specimens and prepared digital images. Peter Williams, Simon O’Connor and Amelia Pascoe provided input into the risk assessment scorecard. Margaret Stanley liaised with Statistics New Zealand to get data on freight entering New Zealand. Landcare Research editors Anne Austin, Christine Bezar, and Peter McGregor have between them proof-read all text, as has Phil Cowan, who has also reviewed final versions. Graphics staff, Janie Jansen and Nicolette Faville, prepared the templates, oversaw final formatting and printed the information sheets. In addition to funding the project Biosecurity New Zealand have, through Simon O’Connor, provided interception data, container information, details of incursions, and feedback on drafts of the text. Parts of this project would not have been possible without funding from the Foundation for Science Research and Technol- ogy to Landcare Research for research on invasive ants.

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Appendix 1: Information sheets on New Zealand ants

The ants of New Zealand information sheet: Species list checklist The ants of New Zealand information sheet: Species of doubtful current establishment The ants of New Zealand information sheet number 1: Amblyopone saundersi – Endemic The ants of New Zealand information sheet number 2: Discothyrea antarctica – Endemic The ants of New Zealand information sheet number 3: Heteroponera brouni – Endemic The ants of New Zealand information sheet number 4: Pachycondyla castanea – Endemic The ants of New Zealand information sheet number 5: Pachycondyla castaneicolor – Endemic The ants of New Zealand information sheet number 6: Huberia brounii – Endemic The ants of New Zealand information sheet number 7: Huberia striata – Endemic The ants of New Zealand information sheet number 8: Monomorium antarcticum – Endemic The ants of New Zealand t information sheet number 9: Monomorium smithii – Endemic The ants of New Zealand information sheet number 10: Monomorium antipodum – Endemic The ants of New Zealand information sheet number 11: Prolasius advena – Endemic The ants of New Zealand information sheet number 12: Amblyopone australis – Introduced The ants of New Zealand information sheet number 13: Hypoponera eduardi – Introduced The ants of New Zealand information sheet number 14: Ponera leae – Introduced The ants of New Zealand information sheet number 15: Rhytidoponera chalybaea – Introduced The ants of New Zealand information sheet number 16: Rhytidoponera metallica – Introduced The ants of New Zealand information sheet number 17: minutior – Introduced The ants of New Zealand information sheet number 18: Mayriella abstinens – Introduced The ants of New Zealand information sheet number 19: Monomorium pharaonis – Introduced The ants of New Zealand information sheet number 20: Monomorium sydneyense – Introduced The ants of New Zealand information sheet number 21: Orectognathus antennatus – Introduced The ants of New Zealand information sheet number 22: Pheidole megacephala – Introduced The ants of New Zealand information sheet number 23: Pheidole rugosula – Introduced The ants of New Zealand information sheet number 24: Pheidole vigilans – Introduced The ants of New Zealand information sheet number 25: Strumigenys perplexa – Introduced The ants of New Zealand information sheet number 26: Strumigenys xenos – Introduced The ants of New Zealand information sheet number 27: Tetramorium bicarinatum – Introduced The ants of New Zealand information sheet number 28: Tetramorium grassii – Introduced The ants of New Zealand information sheet number 29: Doleromyrma darwiniana – Introduced

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The ants of New Zealand information sheet number 30: Linepithema humile – Introduced The ants of New Zealand information sheet number 31: Ochetellus glaber – Introduced The ants of New Zealand information sheet number 32: Technomyrmex albipes – Introduced The ants of New Zealand information sheet number 33: Iridomyrmex sp. – Introduced The ants of New Zealand information sheet number 34: Paratrechina sp. a – Introduced The ants of New Zealand information sheet number 35: Paratrechina sp. b – Introduced The ants of New Zealand information sheet number 36: Solenopsis sp. – Introduced The ants of New Zealand t information sheet number 37: Hypoponera punctatissima – Introduced The ants of New Zealand information sheet: References

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Appendix 2: Information sheets on ants that are potential threats to New Zealand

Invasive ant threat: Information Sheet 1 – Anoplolepis gracilipes Invasive ant threat: Information Sheet 2 – Camponotus spp. Invasive ant threat: Information Sheet 3 – Cardiocondyla spp. Invasive ant threat: Information Sheet 4 – Crematogaster spp. Invasive ant threat: Information Sheet 5 – Formica spp. Invasive ant threat: Information Sheet 6 – Iridomymex anceps Invasive ant threat: Information Sheet 7 – Iridomymex purpureus sp. group Invasive ant threat: Information Sheet 8 – Labidus coecus Invasive ant threat: Information Sheet 9 – Lasius neglectus Invasive ant threat: Information Sheet 10 – Monomorium destructor Invasive ant threat: Information Sheet 11 – Monomorium floricola Invasive ant threat: Information Sheet 12 – Monomorium minimum Invasive ant threat: Information Sheet 13 – Monomorium monomorium Invasive ant threat: Information Sheet 14 – Monomorium sechellense Invasive ant threat: Information Sheet 15 – Myrmecia pilosula Invasive ant threat: Information Sheet 16 – Myrmica rubra Invasive ant threat: Information Sheet 17 – Paratrechina bourbonica Invasive ant threat: Information Sheet 18 – Paratrechina flavipes Invasive ant threat: Information Sheet 19 – Paratrechina fulva Invasive ant threat: Information Sheet 20 – Paratrechina longicornis Invasive ant threat: Information Sheet 21 – Paratrechina vaga Invasive ant threat: Information Sheet 22 – Paratrechina vividula Invasive ant threat: Information Sheet 23 – Pheidole fervens Invasive ant threat: Information Sheet 24 – Solenopsis geminata Invasive ant threat: Information Sheet 25 – Solenopsis molesta Invasive ant threat: Information Sheet 26 – Solenopsis papuana Invasive ant threat: Information Sheet 27 – Solenopsis richteri Invasive ant threat: Information Sheet 28 – Solenopsis saevissima Invasive ant threat: Information Sheet 29 – Solenopsis xyloni Invasive ant threat: Information Sheet 30 – Strumigenys emmae

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Invasive ant threat: Information Sheet 31 – Strumigenys rogeri Invasive ant threat: Information Sheet 32 – Tapinoma melanocephalum Invasive ant threat: Information Sheet 33 – Tapinoma sessile Invasive ant threat: Information Sheet 34 – Tetramorium caespitum Invasive ant threat: Information Sheet 35 – Tetramorium pacificum Invasive ant threat: Information Sheet 36 – Tetramorium rhenanum Invasive ant threat: Information Sheet 37 – Tetramorium simillimum Invasive ant threat: Information Sheet 38 – Tetramorium tonganum Invasive ant threat: Information Sheet 39 – Wasmannia auropunctata

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