Brachymyrmex patagonicus

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Brachymyrmex patagonicus
Brachymyrmex patagonicus casent0173480 profile 1.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Formicinae
Tribe: Myrmelachistini
Genus: Brachymyrmex
Species:
B. patagonicus
Binomial name
Brachymyrmex patagonicus
Mayr, 1868

Brachymyrmex patagonicus is a species of ant in the family Formicidae. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] B. patagonicus, commonly known as the dark rover ant, is native to Argentina and Paraguay. [8] [9] They were first reported in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana in 1978 from a single colony collected in 1976. [10] It is believed that the species was introduced through New Orleans, which is a common entry point for many tropical species, but other locations such as Mobile, Alabama, or Pensacola, Florida, are also likely. [8] For many years B. patagonicus, B. musculus, and B. obscurior were misidentified as being separate species but after a comparison of specimens from the Louisiana State University Arthropod Collection (LSUC), it was found that all three were the same species. [8] B. patagonicus is considered a nuisance pest due to their tendency to infest man made structures but they have received a lack of attention because they do not bite, sting, or carry disease. [8]

Contents

Identification

Dark rover ants are small brown ants that are typically less than 2.5 millimeters in length. [9] Worker ants in this species range from 1.0mm to 2.0mm, whereas queens are around 3.0mm. [11] Males are around 1.0mm in length. [11] The antennae of the worker ants contain nine segments which is common among all species of Brachymyrmex. [12] [11] B. patagonicus have long hairs along the mesosoma and relatively large eyes compared to the other species in the Brachymyrmex genus. [12] On the dorsal surface of the gaster, the distribution of appressed hairs is sparse. [12]

Subspecies

These three subspecies belong to the species Brachymyrmex patagonicus:

Data sources: i = ITIS, [1] c = Catalogue of Life, [2] g = GBIF, [3] b = Bugguide.net [4]

Diet

Few studies have been conducted on the diet of B. patagonicus but it has been observed in nature that this species visits extrafloral nectaries for nectar. [13] Another theory suggests that a major part of their diet is honeydew from hemipterans. [8] In Laboratory settings, an artificial diet containing 30% honey solution, liquid tuna mixture, and caterpillar pieces was observed to support B. patagonicus. [14]

Breeding System and Colony Structure

Most invasive ant species display polygyne tendencies, dispersal by budding, and development of supercolonies that contain hundreds of reproductive queens each. [9] The colony structure of Brachymyrmex patagonicus differs from most invasive ant species in that they are multicolonial and monodomous. [9] This means that each colony consists of a single nest that is genetically different from others around it. [9] In 80% of nests, a single queen heads the colony. [9] In the remaining 20%, there is no queen present. [9] In about 50% of nests headed by a single queen, the queen is only mated by one male. [9]

Dispersal and Habitat

B. patagonicus is native to South America, and more specifically Argentina and Paraguay. It has been introduced in multiple parts of the world including the United states, Asia, and parts of Europe. [15] In less than 50 years after the introduction of the species into the United States, members of B. patagonicus are now commonly found in 14 states ranging from North Carolina to California. [8] [16] [17]

B. patagonicus commonly form their colonies in the soil, at bases of trees, in leaf litter, piles of wood, and trash piles. [11] In southern areas of the United states, colonies are found in both natural and disturbed areas but are more prevalent in areas near human activity. [11] In landscaped areas, they are commonly found in mulch and man made structures. [8] Laboratory studies have shown B. patagonicus have a preference for moist environments [18]

Interaction with other species

B. patagonicus are found to coexist with many native and introduced species including those typically intolerant to other ant species such as Solenopsis invicta and Solenopsis xyloni. [8] It is hypothesized that B. patagonicus may play an important role in the regulation of the populations of the invasive cactus moth (Cactoblastic cactorum). [13] This theory is currently under investigation. [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Formicinae</span> Subfamily of ants

The Formicinae are a subfamily within the Formicidae containing ants of moderate evolutionary development.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fire ant</span> Genus of red ants

Fire ants are several species of ants in the genus Solenopsis, which includes over 200 species. Solenopsis are stinging ants, and most of their common names reflect this, for example, ginger ants and tropical fire ants. Many of the names shared by this genus are often used interchangeably to refer to other species of ant, such as the term red ant, mostly because of their similar coloration despite not being in the genus Solenopsis. Both Myrmica rubra and Pogonomyrmex barbatus are common examples of non-Solenopsis ants being termed red ants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red imported fire ant</span> Species of ant

The red imported fire ant, also known as the fire ant or RIFA, is a species of ant native to South America. A member of the genus Solenopsis in the subfamily Myrmicinae, it was described by Swiss entomologist Felix Santschi as a variant of S. saevissima in 1916. Its current specific name invicta was given to the ant in 1972 as a separate species. However, the variant and species were the same ant, and the name was preserved due to its wide use. Though South American in origin, the red imported fire ant has been accidentally introduced in Australia, New Zealand, several Asian and Caribbean countries, Europe and the United States. The red imported fire ant is polymorphic, as workers appear in different shapes and sizes. The ant's colours are red and somewhat yellowish with a brown or black gaster, but males are completely black. Red imported fire ants are dominant in altered areas and live in a wide variety of habitats. They can be found in rainforests, disturbed areas, deserts, grasslands, alongside roads and buildings, and in electrical equipment. Colonies form large mounds constructed from soil with no visible entrances because foraging tunnels are built and workers emerge far away from the nest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weaver ant</span> Genus of ants

Weaver ants or green ants are eusocial insects of the family Formicidae. Weaver ants live in trees and are known for their unique nest building behaviour where workers construct nests by weaving together leaves using larval silk. Colonies can be extremely large consisting of more than a hundred nests spanning numerous trees and containing more than half a million workers. Like many other ant species, weaver ants prey on small insects and supplement their diet with carbohydrate-rich honeydew excreted by small insects (Hemiptera). Weaver ant workers exhibit a clear bimodal size distribution, with almost no overlap between the size of the minor and major workers. The major workers are approximately 8–10 mm (0.31–0.39 in) in length and the minors approximately half the length of the majors. Major workers forage, defend, maintain, and expand the colony whereas minor workers tend to stay within the nests where they care for the brood and 'milk' scale insects in or close to the nests.

<i>Tapinoma melanocephalum</i> Species of ant

Tapinoma melanocephalum is a species of ant that goes by the common name ghost ant. They are recognised by their dark head and pale or translucent legs and gaster (abdomen). This colouring makes this tiny ant seem even smaller.

<i>Monomorium antarcticum</i> Species of ant

Monomorium antarcticum is an ant of the family Formicidae, endemic to New Zealand. Also known as the southern ant, this is likely New Zealand's most common native ant species. Because it is highly variable in size (3–5mm), colour, and colony structure, it is possible that it consists of a complex of closely related species. It has a generalist diet, including small arthropods, nectar, and seeds, and it also tends aphids, scale insects, and mealybugs to obtain honeydew.

<i>Monomorium</i> Genus of ants

Monomorium is a genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. As of 2013 it contains about 396 species. It is distributed around the world, with many species native to the Old World tropics. It is considered to be "one of the more important groups of ants," considering its widespread distribution, its diversity, and its variety of morphological and biological characteristics. It also includes several familiar pest species, such as the pharaoh ant and the flower ant.

<i>Solenopsis molesta</i> Species of ant

Solenopsis molesta is the best known species of Solenopsisthief ants. They get their names from their habit of nesting close to other ant nests, from which they steal food. They are also called grease ants because they are attracted to grease. Nuptial flight in this species occur from late July through early fall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rasberry crazy ant</span> Species of ant

The tawny crazy ant or Rasberry crazy ant, Nylanderia fulva, is an ant originating in South America. Like the longhorn crazy ant, this species is called "crazy ant" because of its quick, unpredictable movements. It is sometimes called the "Rasberry crazy ant" in Texas after the exterminator Tom Rasberry, who noticed that the ants were increasing in numbers in 2002. Scientists have reorganised the genera taxonomy within this clade of ants, and now it is identified as Nylanderia fulva.

<i>Brachymyrmex</i> Genus of ants

Brachymyrmex is a genus in the ants subfamily Formicinae. The genus can be recognized by the combination of having nine antennal segments and the petiole concealed by the gaster in dorsal view. They are sometimes called "rover ants".

<i>Ochetellus glaber</i> Species of ant

Ochetellus glaber is a species of ant native to Australia. A member of the genus Ochetellus in the subfamily Dolichoderinae, it was described by Austrian entomologist Gustav Mayr in 1862. Aside from Australia, O. glaber has been introduced to a number of countries, including China, India, Japan, New Zealand, the Philippines and the United States, where it has established itself in Hawaii and Florida. It has been found on Lord Howe Island, New Caledonia, Norfolk Island, Réunion, New Zealand, and the Solomon Islands. Compared with other ants, O. glaber is a small species, with workers measuring 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in). Males are the smallest at 1.6 mm (0.063 in), while the queens measure 5.2–5.5 mm (0.20–0.22 in). The ant's colour ranges from brown to black.

<i>Solenopsis saevissima</i> Species of ant

Solenopsis saevissima, commonly known in Brazil as formiga de fogo, formiga-vermelha, or formiga-lava-pes, is one of more than 185 species in the genus Solenopsis. It, along with 13 other species, is also a member of the Solenopsis saevissima species group which are popularly known as fire ants.

<i>Forelius pruinosus</i> Species of ant

Forelius pruinosus, commonly known as the high noon ant, is a species of ant in the genus Forelius. Described by Roger in 1863, the species is endemic to North America and has been recently observed in Latin America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Myrmelachistini</span> Tribe of ants

Myrmelachistini is a tribe of ants in the family Formicidae. There are at least 2 genera and 50 described species in Myrmelachistini.

<i>Formica obscuriventris</i> Species of ant

Formica obscuriventris is a species of ant in the family Formicidae.

<i>Formica moki</i> Species of ant

Formica moki is a species of ant in the family Formicidae.

<i>Colobopsis</i> Genus of ant

Colobopsis is a genus of ant in the subfamily Formicinae. This genus was first described in 1861 by Mayr and contains 95 species. The type species is Colobopsis truncata.

In ecology, a tramp species is an organism that has been spread globally by human activities. The term was coined by William Morton Wheeler in the bulletin of the American museum of natural history in 1906, used to describe ants that “have made their way as well known tramps or stow-aways[sic] to many islands The term has since widened to include non-ant organisms, but remains most popular in myrmecology. Tramp species have been noted in multiple phyla spanning both animal and plant kingdoms, including but not limited to arthropods, mollusca, bryophytes, and pteridophytes. The term "tramp species" was popularized and given a more set definition by Luc Passera in his chapter of David F William's 1994 book Exotic Ants: Biology, Impact, And Control Of Introduced Species.

References

  1. 1 2 "Brachymyrmex patagonicus Report". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2018-04-28.
  2. 1 2 "Brachymyrmex patagonicus species details". Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 2018-04-28.
  3. 1 2 "Brachymyrmex patagonicus". GBIF. Retrieved 2018-04-28.
  4. 1 2 "Brachymyrmex patagonicus Species Information". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2018-04-28.
  5. ↑ Ward, Philip S.; Blaimer, Bonnie B.; Fisher, Brian L. (2016). "A revised phylogenetic classification of the ant subfamily Formicinae(Hymenoptera: Formicidae), with resurrection of the genera Colobopsis and Dinomyrmex". Zootaxa. Magnolia Press. 4072 (3): 343–57. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.4072.3.4 . PMID   27395929.
  6. ↑ Christopher M. Wilson; Autumn Smith-Herron (2016). "Morphology of the male genitalia of Brachymyrmex and their implications in the Formicinae phylogeny". Journal of Hymenoptera Research. Pensoft Publishers. 50: 81–95. doi: 10.3897/JHR.50.8697 . ISSN   1070-9428.
  7. ↑ "AntWeb". California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 2018-04-28.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 MacGown, Joe A.; Hill, JoVonn G.; Deyrup, Mark A. (September 2007). "Brachymyrmex Patagonicus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), an Emerging Pest Species in the Southeastern United States". Florida Entomologist. 90 (3): 457–464. doi: 10.1653/0015-4040(2007)90[457:bphfae]2.0.co;2 . ISSN   0015-4040. S2CID   28943814.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Eyer, Pierre‐André; Espinoza, Elida M.; Blumenfeld, Alexander J.; Vargo, Edward L. (2019-12-08). "The underdog invader: Breeding system and colony genetic structure of the dark rover ant (Brachymyrmex patagonicusMayr)". Ecology and Evolution. 10 (1): 493–505. doi:10.1002/ece3.5917. ISSN   2045-7758. PMC   6972842 . PMID   31993123. S2CID   210944979.
  10. ↑ Wheeler, G. C.; Wheeler, J. (1978). "Brachymyrmex musculus, a new ant in the United States". Entomological News (USA).
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 Tamayo, David (2011). "Dark rover ant: Brachymyrmex patagonicus Mayr". Florida Cooperative Extension Service Document. EENY-498.
  12. 1 2 3 "Rover Ants (Brachymyrmex patagonicus), an emerging pest species". Myrmecos Blog. 2008-05-27. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  13. 1 2 3 Robbins, Meredith; Miller, Tom E. X. (June 2009). "Patterns of Ant Activity onOpuntia stricta(Cactaceae), a Native Host-Plant of the Invasive Cactus Moth,Cactoblastis cactorum(Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)". Florida Entomologist. 92 (2): 391–393. doi: 10.1653/024.092.0231 . ISSN   0015-4040. S2CID   85642097.
  14. ↑ Miguelena, Javier G; Baker, Paul B (2019-06-15). "Effects of Urbanization on the Diversity, Abundance, and Composition of Ant Assemblages in an Arid City". Environmental Entomology. 48 (4): 836–846. doi:10.1093/ee/nvz069. hdl: 10150/636275 . ISSN   0046-225X. PMID   31201775.
  15. ↑ Guenard, Benoit (2018-12-31). "First record of the emerging global pest Brachymyrmex patagonicus Mayr 1868 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from continental Asia". Asian Myrmecology. 10 (1): 1–6. doi:10.20362/am.010012.
  16. ↑ Hill, Jovonn G. (June 2017). "First Report of the Dark Rover Ant, Brachymyrmex patagonicus Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), from Tennessee". Transactions of the American Entomological Society. 143 (2): 517–520. doi:10.3157/061.143.0218. ISSN   0002-8320. S2CID   90600970.
  17. ↑ Macgown, Joe A.; Booher, Doug; Richter, Heath; Wetterer, James K.; Hill, Jovonn G. (2021-12-31). "An Updated List of Ants of Alabama (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with New State Records". Transactions of the American Entomological Society. 147 (4). doi:10.3157/061.147.0409. ISSN   0002-8320. S2CID   245814186.
  18. ↑ Miguelena, Javier; Baker, Paul (2014-11-04). "Evaluation of Liquid and Bait Insecticides against the Dark Rover Ant (Brachymyrmex patagonicus)". Insects. 5 (4): 832–848. doi: 10.3390/insects5040832 . ISSN   2075-4450. PMID   26462943.

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