Behavioural variation and plasticity along an invasive ant introduction pathway

As a critical stage in the life cycle of ant colonies, nest establishment depends on external and internal factors. This study investigates the effect of the number of queens on queen and worker behavior during nest establishment in invasive Argentine ants (Linepitema humile) and native Mediterranean Tapinoma nigerrimum. We set up experimental colonies with the same number of workers but with one or six queens. At different time points, we recorded the positions of queens and workers inside and outside the nest. Our results highlight the influence of the number of queens on the position of queens and workers with between-species differences. Queens of both species entered the nests more quickly when there were six queens. During nest establishment, more workers were inside nests with six queens for both species, with this effect being greater for T. nigerrimum. Once nests were established, fewer workers of both species were engaged in nest maintenance and feeding in nests with six queens; T. nigerrimum had fewer workers engaged in patrolling. These results suggest that the number of queens is a key factor driving queen and worker behavior during and after nest establishment with different species responses.

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Land-cover and climate factors contribute to the prevalence of the ectoparasitic fungus Laboulbenia formicarum in its invasive ant host Lasius neglectus

Fungal Ecology ◽

10.1016/j.funeco.2021.101045 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 51 ◽

pp. 101045

Author(s):

Jérôme M.W. Gippet ◽

Théotime Colin ◽

Julien Grangier ◽

Fiona Winkler ◽

Marjorie Haond ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Land Cover ◽

Climate Factors ◽

Invasive Ant ◽

Lasius Neglectus

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Bacterial transfer from Pristionchus entomophagus nematodes to the invasive ant Myrmica rubra and the potential for colony mortality in coastal Maine

iScience ◽

10.1016/j.isci.2021.102663 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 102663

Author(s):

Suzanne L. Ishaq ◽

Alice Hotopp ◽

Samantha Silverbrand ◽

Jonathan E. Dumont ◽

Amy Michaud ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Myrmica Rubra ◽

Invasive Ant

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Multi‐year drought exacerbates long‐term effects of climate on an invasive ant species

Ecology ◽

10.1002/ecy.3476 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Lisa I. Couper ◽

Nathan J. Sanders ◽

Nicole E. Heller ◽

Deborah M. Gordon

Keyword(s):

Long Term Effects ◽

Invasive Ant

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Detrimental effects of two widespread invasive ant species on weight and survival of colonial nesting seabirds in the Hawaiian Islands

Biological Invasions ◽

10.1007/s10530-008-9233-2 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 289-298 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Sheldon Plentovich ◽

Aaron Hebshi ◽

Sheila Conant

Keyword(s):

Hawaiian Islands ◽

Invasive Ant ◽

Colonial Nesting

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Population genetic analyses provide insights on the introduction pathway and spread patterns of the North American forest pathogenHeterobasidion irregularein Italy

Molecular Ecology ◽

10.1111/mec.12452 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 22 (19) ◽

pp. 4855-4869 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

M. Garbelotto ◽

F. Guglielmo ◽

S. Mascheretti ◽

P. J. P. Croucher ◽

P. Gonthier

Keyword(s):

North American ◽

Population Genetic ◽

Genetic Analyses ◽

The North ◽

Introduction Pathway ◽

Population Genetic Analyses

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Distinct colony boundaries and larval discrimination in polygyne red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta)

10.22541/au.163251827.70085127/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

MacKenzie Kjeldgaard ◽

Pierre-André Eyer ◽

Collin McMichael ◽

Alison Bockoven ◽

Joanie King ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solenopsis Invicta ◽

Sucrose Solution ◽

Ecological Impact ◽

Egg Laying ◽

Fire Ants ◽

Fire Ant ◽

Red Imported Fire Ant ◽

Invasive Ant ◽

Nestmate Discrimination ◽

Social Forms

Evaluating the factors that promote invasive ant abundance is critical to assess their ecological impact and inform their management. Many invasive ant species show reduced nestmate recognition and an absence of boundaries between unrelated nests, which allow populations to achieve greater densities due to reduced intraspecific competition. We examined nestmate discrimination and colony boundaries in introduced populations of the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta; hereafter, fire ant). Fire ants occur in two social forms: monogyne (colonies with a single egg-laying queen) and polygyne (colonies with multiple egg-laying queens). In contrast with monogyne nests, polygyne nests are thought to be interconnected due to the reduced antagonism between non-nestmate polygyne workers, perhaps because polygyne workers habituate the colony to an odor unique to Gp-9-carrying adults. However, colony boundaries and nestmate discrimination are poorly documented, particularly for worker-brood interactions. To delimit boundaries between field colonies, we correlated the exchange of a N-glycine tracer dissolved in a sucrose solution with social form. We also evaluated nestmate discrimination between polygyne workers and larvae in the laboratory. Counter to our expectations, polygyne colonies behaved identically to monogyne colonies, suggesting both social forms maintain strict colony boundaries. Polygyne workers also preferentially fed larval nestmates and may have selectively cannibalized non-nestmates. The levels of relatedness among workers in polygyne colonies was higher than those previously reported in North America (mean ±SE: 0.269 ± 0.037). Our study highlights the importance of combining genetic analyses with direct quantification of resource exchange to better understand the factors influencing ant invasions.

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Update on the invasion status of the Argentine ant, Linepithema humile (Mayr, 1868), in Madrid, a large city in the interior of the Iberian Peninsula

Journal of Hymenoptera Research ◽

10.3897/jhr.85.65725 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 85 ◽

pp. 161-177

Author(s):

Diego López-Collar ◽

Francisco J. Cabrero-Sañudo

Keyword(s):

Urban Areas ◽

Necessary Conditions ◽

Large City ◽

Linepithema Humile ◽

Argentine Ant ◽

Invasive Ant ◽

Personal Communications ◽

Great Capacity ◽

Green Areas ◽

The City

New geolocated records of the invasive ant Linepithema humile (Mayr, 1868) are added to the previous references for the city of Madrid and its surroundings, and the possible causes of the occurrence and permanence of this species in urban areas are discussed. The data collection corresponds to a series of samplings carried out for the last three years in green areas of the city, bibliographic searches, citizen science platforms and personal communications. To date, eleven locations in the urban area of Madrid and four points outside the city have been registered. The city of Madrid is undergoing a colonisation by the Argentine ant, although it is not widespread yet, since observations over time and space are isolated and apparently unrelated. However, this species has a great capacity to disperse and establish new colonies, mainly human-mediated through the transport of goods, plants, gardening tools, etc. Considering the numerous colonizable urban green areas in the city that can provide the necessary conditions for its expansion, the Argentine ant should not be underestimated, and immediate action is strongly recommended.

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