THE ANTS (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) OF ALABAMA Except where reference is made to the work of others, the work described in this thesis is my own or was done in collaboration with my advisory committee. This thesis does not contain proprietary or classified information. ___________________________ Jason Allan Forster Certificate of Approval: ___________________________ ___________________________ Wayne E. Clark Michael L. Williams, Chair Professor Professor Entomology and Plant Pathology Entomology and Plant Pathology ___________________________ ___________________________ George Folkerts Stephen L. McFarland Professor Dean Biological Science Graduate School THE ANTS (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) OF ALABAMA Jason Allan Forster A Thesis Submitted to The Graduate Faculty of Auburn University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science Auburn, Alabama August 8, 2003 THE ANTS (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) OF ALABAMA Jason Allan Forster Permission is granted to Auburn University to make copies of this thesis at its discretion upon request of individuals or institutions and at their expense. The author reserves all publication rights. ___________________________ Jason Allan Forster ___________________________ Date iii VITA Jason Allan Forster was born August 23, 1975 in Anaheim, California to Edward and Sheila Forster. He graduated from Loara High School in 1993 and enlisted in the United States Navy. After serving four years in the Navy, Jason was honorably discharged and became a full time student, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Alabama- Huntsville in April, 2002. After graduating, he spent a summer working as a field technician in Auburn University’s Department of Wildlife Biology. Jason was accepted into the Entomology and Plant Pathology Department as a graduate student in August, 2002. iv THESIS ABSTRACT THE ANTS (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) OF ALABAMA Jason Allan Forster Master of Science, August 8, 2005 (B.S., University of Alabama – Huntsville, 2002) 242 Typed Pages Directed by: Michael L. Williams This thesis presents the first statewide survey of the ant fauna of Alabama in over seventy years. Since the first state survey by L.C. Murphree (in the 1930’s) to present, 154 species have been reported. Fifty-nine of the species presented are new records for the state. Specimens were collected from every county over a period of three years. Past collection records were also examined and incorporated into this thesis. Distribution data, natural history notes, and identification keys for all the species reported in Alabama are presented. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my advisor, Dr. Michael L. Williams, for accepting me as his student and for his support and guidance over the years. I want to extend my gratitude to my committee members: Dr. Wayne E. Clark and Dr. George Folkerts. I would also like to thank my friends and associates for their help and friendship while here at Auburn including: Nicholas Sharp, Nathan Burkett, Andy Boring, Demian Kondo, Elly Maxwell, Shawn Dash, Dr. Charles Ray, Dr. Gary Mullen, Dr. Arthur Appel, and Joe MacGown. I would especially like to thank Joe MacGown for sharing his data, insights and knowledge on the subject of ants and for assisting me in my identification efforts. Finally, special thanks to my parents and family for their care and understanding over the years. vi Computer software used: Microsoft® Word 2000 vii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES AND MAPS ...………………………………………………………xi LIST OF FIGURES …………………………………………………………………...xviii INTRODUCTION ………………………………………………………………………..1 MATERIALS AND METHODS …………………………………………………………3 GENERAL MORPHOLOGY OF ANTS ………………………………………………...7 GENERAL TAXONOMY OF ANTS ……………………………………………………9 KEY TO THE SUBFAMILIES OF FORMICIDAE ……………………………………12 SUBFAMILY AMBYLOPONINAE …………………………………………………...14 Genus Amblyopone ……………………………………………………………...14 SUBFAMILY DOLICHODERINAE …………………………………………………...15 Genus Dolichoderus ……………………………………………………………..17 Genus Dorymyrmex ……………………………………………………………..21 Genus Forelius ………………………………………………………………..…25 Genus Linepithema …………………………………………………………..….27 Genus Tapinoma …………………………………………………………….…..29 SUBFAMILY ECITONINAE …………………………………………………………..30 Genus Neivamyrmex ……………………………………………………...……..31 SUBFAMILY ECTATOMMINAE …………………………………………..…………34 Genus Gnamptogenys ………………………………………………………….…….….34 viii SUBFAMILY FORMICINAE ………………………………………………………….35 Genus Brachymyrmex …………………………………………………………...37 Genus Camponotus …………………………………………………………...…41 Genus Formica …………………………………………………………………..58 Genus Lasius …………………………………………………………………….68 Genus Paratrechina …………………………………………………………..…72 SUBFAMILY MYRMICINAE …………………………………………………………84 Genus Aphaenogaster ………………….………………………………………..89 Genus Crematogaster ………….……….……………………………………...100 Genus Cyphomyrmex ………………….……………………………………….107 Genus Monomorium …………………..………………………………………..109 Genus Myrmecina ……………….…..………………………………………....114 Genus Myrmica ……………………….……………………………………..…115 Genus Pheidole ………………………………………………………………...119 Genus Pogonomyrmex …………………………………………………………135 Genus Protomognathus ………………………………………………………...137 Genus Pyramica ………………………………………………………………..138 Genus Solenopsis ………………………………………………………………155 Genus Stenamma ……………………………………………………………….170 Genus Strumigenys ……………………………………………………………..172 Genus Temnothorax …………………………………………………………....173 Genus Tetramorium …………………………………………………………....181 Genus Trachymyrmex ………………………………………………………….184 ix SUBFAMILY PONERINAE …………………………………………………………..186 Genus Cryptopone ……………………………………………………………..189 Genus Hypoponera …………………………………………………………….190 Genus Odontomachus ………………………………………………………….194 Genus Ponera ………………………………………………………………..…196 SUBFAMILY PROCERATIINAE …………………………………………………….199 Genus Discothyrea ……………………………………………………………..199 Genus Proceratium …………………………………………………………….200 SUBFAMILY PSEUDOMYRMECINAE ………………………………………….…204 Genus Pseudomyrmex ………………………………………………………….205 RESULTS …………………………………………………………………………..….209 DISCUSSION ………………………………………………………………………….210 REFERENCES ……………………..……………………………………………….…212 x LIST OF TABLES AND MAPS Table 1. List of the ants of Alabama …………………………………………………...…9 Map 1. County map of the state of Alabama ……………………………………………10 Map 2. Amblyopone pallipes ………………………………………………...…………..15 Map 3. Dolichoderus plagiatus ……………………………...…………………………..19 Map 4. Dorymyrmex bureni ……………………………………………………………..22 Map 5. Dorymyrmex flavus ………………………………………………………..…….23 Map 6. Dorymyrmex grandulus …………………………………………………………24 Map 7. Dorymyrmex smithi ……………………………………………………...………25 Map 8. Forelius sp. ……………………………………………………………………...26 Map 9. Linepithema humile …………………………………………..…………………27 Map 10. Tapinoma sessile ………………………………………………...…………..…29 Map 11. Neivamyrmex carolinensis ………………………………………….………….32 Map 11. Neivamyrmex nigrescens ………….…………………….………….………….33 Map 12. Gnamptogenys triangularis …………………………………..….…………….35 Map 13. Brachymyrmex depilis …………………………………………………………39 Map 14. Brachymyrmex musculus ………………………………………………………40 Map 15. Brachymyrmex sp. ……………………………………………………………..41 Map 16. Camponotus americanus ………………………………………………………46 Map 17. Camponotus caryae ……………………………………………..……………..47 xi Map 18. Camponotus castaneus …………………………….…………….…………….48 Map 19. Camponotus chromaiodes ……………………..………………………………49 Map 20. Camponotus decipiens ………………………...……………………………….50 Map 21. Camponotus discolor ………………………………..…………………………50 Map 22. Camponotus floridanus ………………………………….…………………….51 Map 23. Camponotus impressus ………………………………..……………………….52 Map 24. Camponotus mississippiensis ……………………………………...…………..53 Map 25. Camponotus nearcticus ………………..………………………………………53 Map 26. Camponotus pennsylvanicus …………………..……………….………………55 Map 27. Camponotus snellingi ……………………….…………..…………………….56 Map 28. Camponotus socius ………………………..…………..……………………….57 Map 29. Camponotus subbarbatus ……………..…………………….…………………58 Map 30. Formica integra.. ………………………………………………………………62 Map 31. Formica new sp. ………………………………………….……………………63 Map 32. Formica pallidefulva ……………………………….………………………….64 Map 33. Formica rubicunda …………………………………………………………….65 Map 34. Formica schaufussi dolosa …………………………………………………….66 Map 35. Formica subintegra ……………………………………………..……………..67 Map 36. Formica subsericea ………………………………………..…………………..68 Map 37. Lasius alienus ………………………………………………………………….70 Map 38. Lasius neoniger ………………………………………..……………………….71 Map 39. Lasius umbratus …………………………………………...…………………..72 Map 40. Paratrechina arenivaga ………………………………………………………..75 xii Map 41. Paratrechina bourbonica ………………………………………..…………….76 Map 42. Paratrechina faisonensis ………………………………………………………77 Map 43. Paratrechina parvula ………………………………………………………….79 Map 44. Paratrechina phantasma ……………………...……………………………….80 Map 45. Paratrechina vividula ………………………………………………………….81 Map 46. Paratrechina wojciki ………………………………….……………………….82 Map 47. Prenolepis imparis ………………………………….……………….…………83 Map 48. Aphaenogaster fulva …………………………………….……………..………93 Map 49. Aphaenogaster lamellidens …………………….………………………………94 Map 50. Aphaenogaster miamiana ………………...……………………………………95 Map 51. Aphaenogaster picea ………………………………………….……………….96 Map 52. Aphaenogaster rudis …………………………………………………………..97 Map 53. Aphaenogaster tennesseensis ………………………………………………….97 Map 54. Aphaenogaster treatae …………………………………...…………………….98 Map 55. Aphaenogaster sp. ………………………………………………………….….99 Map 56. Crematogaster ashmeadi ……………………………………………………..102 Map 57. Crematogaster lineolata ………………………………………………..…….103 Map 58. Crematogaster minutissima …………………………………………………..104 Map 59. Crematogaster missuriensis …………………………….……………………105 Map 60. Crematogaster pilosa ………………………………..……………………….106