Clemson University TigerPrints All Dissertations Dissertations 5-2009 The Ants of South Carolina Timothy Davis Clemson University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_dissertations Part of the Entomology Commons Recommended Citation Davis, Timothy, "The Ants of South Carolina" (2009). All Dissertations. 331. https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_dissertations/331 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Dissertations at TigerPrints. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Dissertations by an authorized administrator of TigerPrints. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE ANTS OF SOUTH CAROLINA A Dissertation Presented to the Graduate School of Clemson University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy Entomology by Timothy S. Davis May 2009 Accepted by: Dr. Paul Mackey Horton, Committee Chair Dr. Craig Allen, Co-Committee Chair Dr. Eric Benson Dr. Clyde Gorsuch ABSTRACT The ants of South Carolina were surveyed in the literature, museum, and field collections using pitfall traps. M. R. Smith was the last to survey ants in South Carolina on a statewide basis and published his list in 1934. VanPelt and Gentry conducted a survey of ants at the Savanna River Plant in the 1970’s. This is the first update on the ants of South Carolina since that time. A preliminary list of ants known to occur in South Carolina has been compiled. Ants were recently sampled on a statewide basis using pitfall traps. Two hundred and forty-three (243) transects were placed in 15 different habitat types. A total of 2673 pitfalls traps were examined, 41,414 individual ants were identified. Additionally this list is supplemented with confirmed literature identifications, museum specimens, and various hand and litter sifting collections. Hand collections and Winkler sifted litter samples near Clemson, SC yielded an additional 768 specimens. A total of 121 species from 38 genera are listed. County of record and habitats are given where known. The data from these collections along with SC GAP Analysis data were used to map the distribution of the ants across landscape type and physiographic region. Distributions for a total of 65 species were modeled. A predicted species richness map was generated by adding the distribution maps using GIS software. Species richness ranged from zero to 41 species. Species lists by habitat affinities. These distribution models may be prove useful in predicting ant assemblages in defined landscapes which can be used in land management decisions. ii DEDICATION The Teacher sought to find delightful words, and to write accurately truthful sayings. The words of the sages are like prods, and the collected sayings are like firmly fixed nails; they are given by one shepherd. Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. There is no end to the making of many books, and much study is exhausting to the body. Having heard everything, I have reached this conclusion: Fear God and keep his commandments, because this is the whole duty of man. For God will evaluate every deed, including every secret thing, whether good or evil. Ecclesiates 12: 10 -14 iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The list of those who have had a part in the completion of this project is much to long to include all who deserve to be mentioned. My thanks go to all those who have played a role in advising, instructing, and encouraging me along this long journey. The following people contributed in various ways to the completion of this project. Dr. Mac Horton – for asking me to do this in the first place and everything else along the way Dr. Sanford Porter – for review of iterations of the manuscript and help with ant identification and specimen confirmations Lloyd Davis – for teaching me new characters, and confirming many of my identifications Dr. John Morse – for reviewing my use of scientific names Dr. Craig Allen – for the original idea to do a GAP Analysis layer for ants and for statistical, GIS, conceptual assistance along the way. Leslie Parris – for doing all the pitfall collections Eric Paysen – for adding his collections to my list as well as scouring the museum for new records Nichole Bennett, David Wagner, Will Medlin – working as an interns on the laboratory experiment for the bluebird baffle, and collection maintenance Lex Glover – providing field data on predation of bluebirds in the Sandhill bluebird nestbox program Student workers – who took on the ugliest job . separating the ants in from the pitfall traps Dr. Henson – I didn’t want to take entomology because I didn’t want to have Dr. Henson. By the end of the course I had grown to love both entomology and Dr. Henson Mr Plumb – the first teacher that didn’t just let me just sit and daydream and saw how much I enjoyed science Grampa, Mom and Dad I must especially give my thanks and appreciation to those that have sacrificed the most . my family . Kim, William, and Zachary. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Page TITLE PAGE .................................................................................................................... i ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................... ii DEDICATION ................................................................................................................ iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .............................................................................................. iv LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................................... vii LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................ ix CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................... 1 Literature Cited ...................................................................................... 11 II. LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................ 12 Literature Cited ...................................................................................... 21 III. PRELIMINARY LIST OF THE ANTS OF SOUTH CAROLINA ............ 25 Introduction ............................................................................................ 25 Materials and Methods ........................................................................... 27 Results and Discussion .......................................................................... 30 Literature Cited ...................................................................................... 51 IV. DISTRIBUTION AND SPECIES RICHNESS OF ANTS IN SOUTH CAROLINA ........................................................................................... 53 Introduction ............................................................................................ 53 Materials and Methods ........................................................................... 56 Results .................................................................................................... 61 Discussion and Conclusions .................................................................. 63 Literature Cited .................................................................................... 129 v Table of Contents (Continued) Page V. DISCUSSION AND SUMMARY ............................................................. 132 Literature Cited .................................................................................... 139 APPENDICES ............................................................................................................. 140 A: Pitfall Location Data .................................................................................. 141 B: Pitfall Collection Data ................................................................................ 155 C: Miscellaneous Publications ........................................................................ 207 THE EXCLUSION OF THE RED IMPORTED FIRE ANT (FORMICIDAE: SOLENOPSIS INVICTA BUREN) TO PREVENT THE PREDATION ON THE EASTERN BLUEBIRD SIALIA SIALIS .............................. 209 Introduction .......................................................................................... 209 Materials and Methods ......................................................................... 211 Results .................................................................................................. 214 Conclusions and Discussion ................................................................ 217 Literature Cited .................................................................................... 221 Hints for Effective RIFA Bait Treatment (Fact Sheet) .............................. 222 Managing the Red Imported Fire Ant in Pastures (Fact Sheet) ................. 224 Management of the Red Imported Fire Ant – Theory and Practice in the United States .................................................................................. 229 Summary of Observations and Thoughts Regarding the Incursion of the Red Imported Fire Ant Solenopsis invicta Buren (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) in Taiwan. ..................................................................................... 244 vi LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1.1South Carolina GAP Analysis Program’s brief cover descriptions for the sixteen land covers selected for statewide ant sampling in South Carolina 1999 – 2000. ......................................................................................