> Myrmicinae > Wasmannia > Wasmannia auropunctata

Species: Wasmannia auropunctata

Author: John T. Longino

Taxonomic Hierarchy:

Subfamily: Myrmicinae Genus: Wasmannia

Distribution:

Paraguay: Alto Paraná, Boquerón, Caaguazú, Canindeyú, Central, Concepción, Pte. Hayes

Biology:

Especie invasiva, domina grandes espacios, abundante durante el Fenómeno del Nińo en 1982 y épocas lluviosas, presente en zonas urbanas , áreas del Parque Nacional. Desplaza comunidades nativas y endémicas de invertebrados.

Taxonomic History (provided by Barry Bolton, 2010)

auropunctata. Tetramorium auropunctatum Roger, 1863a: 182 (w.q.m.) CUBA. Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1954d: 444 (l.). Combination in Ochetomyrmex: Forel, 1886b: xlix; in Wasmannia: Forel, 1893g: 383. Senior synonym of atomum: Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 912; of glabra: Kempf, 1964e: 66; of panamana: Brown, 1948d: 102; of australis, laevifrons, nigricans, obscura, pulla, rugosa: Longino & Fernández, 2007: 276.

References:

Clark, D. B., C. Guayasam?n, O. Pazmi?o, C. Donoso, and Y. P?ez de Villac?s. 1982. The tramp ant Wasmannia auropunctata: autecology and effects on ant diversity and distribution on Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos. Biotropica 14:196-207.

De Souza, A. L. B., J. H. C. Delabie, and H. G. Fowler. 1998. Wasmannia spp. (Hym. Formicidae) and insect damages to cocoa in Brazilian farms. Journal of Applied Entomology 122:339-341.

Fabres, G., and W. L. Brown, Jr. 1978. The recent introduction of the pest ant Wasmannia auropunctata into New Caledonia. Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 17:139-142.

Jourdan, H. 1997. Threats on Pacific islands: the spread of the tramp ant Wasmannia auropunctata (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Pac. Cons. Biol. 3:61-64.

Lubin, Y. D. 1984. Changes in the native fauna of the Gal?pagos Islands following invasion by the little red fire ant, Wasmannia auropunctata. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 21:229-242.

Ulloa Chac?n, D., and D. Cherix. 1990. The little fire ant Wasmannia auropunctata (Roger)(Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Pages 281-289 in R. K. Vander Meer, K. Jaffe, and A. Cedeno, editors. Applied myrmecology: a world perspective. Westview press, Boulder, CO. 741 p.

Williams, D. F., (ed.). 1994. Exotic ants. Biology, impact, and control of introduced species. Westview Press, Boulder. [Numerous articles in this book concern the biology of Wasmannia auropunctata.]