New invasive ant in Southern California

[myrmecophile]

One of the reasons I am so against the illegal trade of arthropods. This ant could be a huge problem in Southern California. Hopefully the infestation was caught in time. Although admittedly this one most likely came in on agricultural material.

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/20...big-headed-african-ants-from-spreading-north/

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/ants-612534-headed-big.html

 

[LordWaffle]

Invasive ants and California go together like work and me with a hangover.

 

[klawfran3]

What's next? Army ants? Can't we just have a break here in Cali!?

 

[myrmecophile]

We already have a number of army ant species in California.

 

[The Snark]

Just don't let this become another government boondoggle. Many might not recall the great Mediterranean Fruit Fly scare. The government hyped the threat to the skies and they sprayed powerful pesticides from helicopters over vast swaths of So Cal including heavily populated areas citing major crop devastation. Nearly all the bees and butterflies vanished so a few select crops -may- have been protected.

 

[Smokehound714]

Just don't let this become another government boondoggle. Many might not recall the great Mediterranean Fruit Fly scare. The government hyped the threat to the skies and they sprayed powerful pesticides from helicopters over vast swaths of So Cal including heavily populated areas citing major crop devastation. Nearly all the bees and butterflies vanished so a few select crops -may- have been protected.

Well, to be fair, that was because of an environmentalist terrorist attack on corporate farms. Gov. brown compounded the problem by poisoning thousands of people, and somehow he got re-elected as governor again? I guess the malathion damaged everyone's brain or something.. LOL I cant believe everyone re-elected him, after he did that, kinda proves to me that the general public is totally inept and helpless.. Malathion is relatively non-toxic itself, but the body converts it into a more dangerous toxin if ingested.

But when it comes to ants, they can be a total disaster; Argentine ants are known to aggressively target harvester ants, eradicating them from large portions of habitat, while collecting, i often find enormous colonies in riparian and woodland habitat, consequently extirpating native insects.. Monomorium is another VERY troublesome genus, though i've found that the far less troublesome Monomorium eratogyna has actually benefited our property by discouraging Monomorium pharoanis. While aggressive towards other ant species, they seem far more interested in honeydew and tending aphids. Im not sure this is what happened to halt our pharaoh ant infestation, but the explosion of M. eratogyna seems to have dramatically reduced our invasive ant species. I havent even seen S.Invicta on my property for a while, though they could have simply been wiped out by the argentine ants. Either that, or they simply hybridized, and the eratogyna genetics are dominating. Which is cool, because they dont seem too keen on invading homes. Every once in a while, they'll march in to raid a cup of soda, but no colonies indoors, which is a huge relief.

I have seen small colonies of african big headed ants on my property, didnt know what they were back then.

 

[myrmecophile]

Just don't let this become another government boondoggle. Many might not recall the great Mediterranean Fruit Fly scare. The government hyped the threat to the skies and they sprayed powerful pesticides from helicopters over vast swaths of So Cal including heavily populated areas citing major crop devastation. Nearly all the bees and butterflies vanished so a few select crops -may- have been protected.

There is no question this ant species has the potential to become a tremendously damaging invader.

---------- Post added 05-06-2014 at 08:23 PM ----------

But when it comes to ants, they can be a total disaster; Argentine ants are known to aggressively target harvester ants, eradicating them from large portions of habitat, while collecting, i often find enormous colonies in riparian and woodland habitat, consequently extirpating native insects.. Monomorium is another VERY troublesome genus, though i've found that the far less troublesome Monomorium eratogyna has actually benefited our property by discouraging Monomorium pharoanis. While aggressive towards other ant species, they seem far more interested in honeydew and tending aphids. Im not sure this is what happened to halt our pharaoh ant infestation, but the explosion of M. eratogyna seems to have dramatically reduced our invasive ant species. I havent even seen S.Invicta on my property for a while, though they could have simply been wiped out by the argentine ants. Either that, or they simply hybridized, and the eratogyna genetics are dominating. Which is cool, because they dont seem too keen on invading homes. Every once in a while, they'll march in to raid a cup of soda, but no colonies indoors, which is a huge relief.

I have seen small colonies of african big headed ants on my property, didnt know what they were back then.

HUhhh??? Most of you rost makes no sense. although it is true that argentines will wipe out other species. I have seen them work over Pogonomyrmex before so agree with that.
However Monomorium ergatogyna (a native species) is going to have little or no impact on the M. pharaonis among other things due to a totally different set of environmental needs,indoors vers usually outdoors. Basically they will have little opportunity to interact most of the time. Although I have never seen M. ergatogyna move indoors I suppose it is possible. I have never seen M. ergatogyna attack other ants, and I have seen this species plenty of time in the field. As you say though they do like their honeydew. In y experience in So Cal most P. pharaonis infestation turn out to be Solenopsis molesta instead. S. invicta has in no way hybridized with M ergatogyna. S. invicta could conceivably hybridize with the native S. xyloni though.
More likely the big headed ants you have seen were one of the native species.

 

[Smokehound714]

There is no question this ant species has the potential to become a tremendously damaging invader.

---------- Post added 05-06-2014 at 08:23 PM ----------




HUhhh??? Most of you rost makes no sense. although it is true that argentines will wipe out other species. I have seen them work over Pogonomyrmex before so agree with that.
However Monomorium ergatogyna (a native species) is going to have little or no impact on the M. pharaonis among other things due to a totally different set of environmental needs,indoors vers usually outdoors. Basically they will have little opportunity to interact most of the time. Although I have never seen M. ergatogyna move indoors I suppose it is possible. I have never seen M. ergatogyna attack other ants, and I have seen this species plenty of time in the field. As you say though they do like their honeydew. In y experience in So Cal most P. pharaonis infestation turn out to be Solenopsis molesta instead. S. invicta has in no way hybridized with M ergatogyna. S. invicta could conceivably hybridize with the native S. xyloni though.
More likely the big headed ants you have seen were one of the native species.

I have NEVER seen solenopsis molesta EVER around my property. I know the difference between them and monomorium..

What part of my post makes no sense? BTW, i meant to say M. eratogyna were aggressive to Pharaohnis lol. They dont fight with the other ants, my bad.

It's probably because both have to fight over suitable habitat. But the eratogyna are larger on average. All pharaohnis needs to survive in socal is a stone.


EDIT: OH IS SEE WHAT YOU MEANT.. Hahaha Oh my im terribly sorry about that. I meant to say pharaohnis and eratogyna were possibly hybridizing, hahaha..


Ive only seen S. molesta around huntington beach. Sorry earlier i was talking about girls for like two hours, so my brain was stupid.

 

[myrmecophile]

M. pharaonis does not live outdoors in southern California. S. molesta is very common through out S. Cal. most commonly encountered under stones in fact I collected some last week in Cardiff under a stone. If you are seeing a small yellow ant under a rock I would put money on it being S. molesta.

 

[Smokehound714]

M. pharaonis does not live outdoors in southern California. S. molesta is very common through out S. Cal. most commonly encountered under stones in fact I collected some last week in Cardiff under a stone. If you are seeing a small yellow ant under a rock I would put money on it being S. molesta.

I know the difference between pharaohnis and S.molesta... besides, pharaohnis isnt yellow, anyway. They're more of a burnt orange with a black-ish abdomen.

 

[myrmecophile]

Are you using color as the defining character?? If so that is the worst possible option you can use as color is too variable in both species. I have seen S. molesta ranging from pure yellow to bi color and quite dark. Monomorium I have seen the reverse. The best way to tell them apart is thru a scope and check the antennal club. 2 segmented club in Solenopsis and 3 segments in Monomorium.

 

[Smokehound714]

Are you using color as the defining character?? If so that is the worst possible option you can use as color is too variable in both species. I have seen S. molesta ranging from pure yellow to bi color and quite dark. Monomorium I have seen the reverse. The best way to tell them apart is thru a scope and check the antennal club. 2 segmented club in Solenopsis and 3 segments in Monomorium.

Yes that is true, i should have phrased this better. Cut me some slack, man. part of my brain is damaged from a severe infection, i commonly say dumb things.. lol Keep in mind you're also stressing me out by ignoring me repeatedly, ahaha.

The ants in my backyard are M. pharaohnis. Not S. molesta. I'll take some HUE macro shots to prove it tomorrow. Whatever stupid comment i make wont change it

 

[myrmecophile]

Would love to see some pictures.

 

[khil]

One of the reasons I am so against the illegal trade of arthropods. This ant could be a huge problem in Southern California. Hopefully the infestation was caught in time. Although admittedly this one most likely came in on agricultural material.

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/20...big-headed-african-ants-from-spreading-north/

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/ants-612534-headed-big.html

Are you serious? What does this have to do with the illegal arthropod trade? I bet it arrived like the vast majority of dangerous invasive species did: Agricultural imports, or under governmental action. Just like our awful Argentine Ants-their introduction had nothing to do with the arthropod trade. It's convenient to blame the civilians who want to keep a couple bugs as pets or mount them and ignore the real sources of problem. Too bad it won't solve anything.