scholarly journals Population dynamics of invasive Argentine ant Linepithema humile Mayr, 1868 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) haplotypes in Kobe Port, Japan, and implications for the prediction of future dispersal and effective management

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 467-476
Author(s):  
Yugo Seko ◽  
Yu Maebara ◽  
Naoyuki Nakahama ◽  
Takuya Nakamori ◽  
Naoto Ishiwaka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Linepithema Humile ◽  
Argentine Ant ◽  
Effective Management

scholarly journals Bacterial diversity and viral discovery in the invasive Argentine ant (Linepithema humile)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Alexandra Sébastien
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Invasive Species ◽  
Population Dynamics ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Bacterial Diversity ◽  
Linepithema Humile ◽  
Argentine Ant ◽  
Invasive Ants ◽  
Argentine Ants ◽  
Species Population

<p>Invasive species can lead to major economic and ecological issues. For this reason, biological controls are being developed in order to help with invasive species population management. Pathogenic bacteria and viruses offer good biological control opportunities as both micro-organisms have played a role in natural population declines. However, beneficial bacteria and viruses associated with the targeted invasive species may interfere with biological controls, by protecting their hosts from infections. Previous knowledge on both pathogenic and beneficial bacteria and viruses present in invasive species may then support the development of an active and efficient biological control.  The Argentine ant, Linepithema humile, is a South American invasive ant species that has successfully spread over five continents. The ants were introduced to New Zealand after a complex invasion path, from Argentina their home range to Europe, then to Australia and finally to New Zealand. In their new environments, invasive Argentine ants affect species diversity and can cause agricultural losses. In the absence of any biological controls, the Argentine ant population is controlled by chemical sprays and poison baits. Management of these invasive ants in New Zealand is estimated to cost NZ$ 60 million a year. The Argentine ant population in New Zealand was reported to have unexpectedly declined. It was hypothesised that pathogens were the cause of this population collapse.  In this study, bacteria and viruses present in the invasive ants were investigated using 454 sequencing and Illumina sequencing for future developments of possible biological controls for the Argentine ants, and a better understanding of the observed population decline in New Zealand. Bacterial diversity present in Argentine ants either declined or diminished along the invasion pathway. At the same time, the invasive ants maintained a core of nine bacteria genera, including Lactobacillus and Gluconobacter, two bacterial genera with members known for their beneficial associations with honey bees. The presence of these core bacteria may have participated in the success of Argentine ants in their new environments. In the laboratory, the use of ampicillin and gentamicin antibiotics on the ants increased bacterial diversity present in the ants. Furthermore, ampicillin, kanamycin and spectinomycin antibiotic treatments increased ant survival but did not affect the ant fitness or intra-species aggressiveness. Only spectinomycin treated ants presented a higher level of inter-species aggressiveness. Bacterial diversity may play an important role in the ant health and at length population dynamics.  Finally, Argentine ants are the hosts of two viruses: the Deformed wing virus (DWV) involved in colony collapse disorder in honey bees, and Linepithema humile virus 1 (LHUV-1), a new virus related to DWV. Both viruses actively replicate within the ants, indicating a possible reservoir role of the ants. However, the effects of the viruses on the ants are not yet known. Further viral infection in the laboratory under different stress conditions and / or antibiotic treatment will give an insight in the role played by these viruses in the observed population collapse of Argentine ants in New Zealand. LHUV-1 may offer a possibility in the development of the first biological control for Argentine ants, depending on its specificity and its effects.  This dissertation provides a first insight in the core bacteria as well as potential harmful viruses present in Argentine ants. These bacteria and viruses may play a role in the ant population dynamics. Invasive species may co-introduce harmful pathogens with them, and participate to the spread of local ones. The pathogens may affect both invasive ants and native species population dynamics.</p>

scholarly journals Bacterial diversity and viral discovery in the invasive Argentine ant (Linepithema humile)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Alexandra Sébastien
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Invasive Species ◽  
Population Dynamics ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Bacterial Diversity ◽  
Linepithema Humile ◽  
Argentine Ant ◽  
Invasive Ants ◽  
Argentine Ants ◽  
Species Population

<p>Invasive species can lead to major economic and ecological issues. For this reason, biological controls are being developed in order to help with invasive species population management. Pathogenic bacteria and viruses offer good biological control opportunities as both micro-organisms have played a role in natural population declines. However, beneficial bacteria and viruses associated with the targeted invasive species may interfere with biological controls, by protecting their hosts from infections. Previous knowledge on both pathogenic and beneficial bacteria and viruses present in invasive species may then support the development of an active and efficient biological control.  The Argentine ant, Linepithema humile, is a South American invasive ant species that has successfully spread over five continents. The ants were introduced to New Zealand after a complex invasion path, from Argentina their home range to Europe, then to Australia and finally to New Zealand. In their new environments, invasive Argentine ants affect species diversity and can cause agricultural losses. In the absence of any biological controls, the Argentine ant population is controlled by chemical sprays and poison baits. Management of these invasive ants in New Zealand is estimated to cost NZ$ 60 million a year. The Argentine ant population in New Zealand was reported to have unexpectedly declined. It was hypothesised that pathogens were the cause of this population collapse.  In this study, bacteria and viruses present in the invasive ants were investigated using 454 sequencing and Illumina sequencing for future developments of possible biological controls for the Argentine ants, and a better understanding of the observed population decline in New Zealand. Bacterial diversity present in Argentine ants either declined or diminished along the invasion pathway. At the same time, the invasive ants maintained a core of nine bacteria genera, including Lactobacillus and Gluconobacter, two bacterial genera with members known for their beneficial associations with honey bees. The presence of these core bacteria may have participated in the success of Argentine ants in their new environments. In the laboratory, the use of ampicillin and gentamicin antibiotics on the ants increased bacterial diversity present in the ants. Furthermore, ampicillin, kanamycin and spectinomycin antibiotic treatments increased ant survival but did not affect the ant fitness or intra-species aggressiveness. Only spectinomycin treated ants presented a higher level of inter-species aggressiveness. Bacterial diversity may play an important role in the ant health and at length population dynamics.  Finally, Argentine ants are the hosts of two viruses: the Deformed wing virus (DWV) involved in colony collapse disorder in honey bees, and Linepithema humile virus 1 (LHUV-1), a new virus related to DWV. Both viruses actively replicate within the ants, indicating a possible reservoir role of the ants. However, the effects of the viruses on the ants are not yet known. Further viral infection in the laboratory under different stress conditions and / or antibiotic treatment will give an insight in the role played by these viruses in the observed population collapse of Argentine ants in New Zealand. LHUV-1 may offer a possibility in the development of the first biological control for Argentine ants, depending on its specificity and its effects.  This dissertation provides a first insight in the core bacteria as well as potential harmful viruses present in Argentine ants. These bacteria and viruses may play a role in the ant population dynamics. Invasive species may co-introduce harmful pathogens with them, and participate to the spread of local ones. The pathogens may affect both invasive ants and native species population dynamics.</p>

scholarly journals Impact of selenium on mortality, bioaccumulation and feeding deterrence in the invasive Argentine ant, Linepithema humile (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

2014 ◽  
Vol 481 ◽  
pp. 446-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah G. De La Riva ◽  
Beatriz G. Vindiola ◽  
Tracy N. Castañeda ◽  
David R. Parker ◽  
John T. Trumble
Keyword(s):  
Linepithema Humile ◽  
Argentine Ant ◽  
Feeding Deterrence

Argentine Ant, Linepithema humile (Mayr) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Dolichoderinae)

2008 ◽  
pp. 288-291
Author(s):  
George Hangay ◽  
Severiano F. Gayubo ◽  
Marjorie A. Hoy ◽  
Marta Goula ◽  
Allen Sanborn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Linepithema Humile ◽  
Argentine Ant

scholarly journals 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

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.

scholarly journals First record of the Argentine ant, Linepithema humile (Mayr, 1868), in the Tuscan Archipelago (Italy)

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-43
Author(s):  
Alberto Masoni ◽  
Filippo Frizzi ◽  
Francesca Giannini ◽  
Giacomo Santini
Keyword(s):  
Linepithema Humile ◽  
First Record ◽  
Argentine Ant

scholarly journals Partitioning of reproduction among queens in the Argentine ant, Linepithema humile

2001 ◽  
Vol 62 (6) ◽  
pp. 1039-1045 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denis Fournier ◽  
Laurent Keller
Keyword(s):  
Linepithema Humile ◽  
Argentine Ant
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