Species: Anoplolepis gracilipes

Taxonomic History (provided by Barry Bolton, 2013)

Distribution:

Global (Wetterer 2005): In tropical Asia and tropical islands of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, A. gracilipes occurs throughout the moist lowlands, but is not commonly found in arid regions and sites above 1200 m elevation. In tropical Africa, it is known only from Dar es Salaam and nearby Zanzibar. In tropical Australia, A. gracilipes has been recorded primarily from moist monsoon rainforests along perennial springs and streams in the northern region and in a few towns on the north and east coasts. In the Neotropics, there are records of A. gracilipes from western Mexico. In subtropical Asia, A. gracilipes ranges up to 26-27N in northern India, southern China, and southern islands of Japan. I found only six records from latitudes >27, two from exterminated urban populations (Auckland, New Zealand; Brisbane, Australia) and three from probably temporary populations (Valparaso, Chile; Durban, South Africa; Zayul, Tibet). The sixth population, on Amami-Oshima Island, Japan, may or may not be temporary. Anoplolepis gracilipes is not yet known from many moist lowland tropical areas where it would probably thrive, including west-central Africa and much of the Neotropics. Populations in western Mexico are prevented from expanding eastward by a central mountain range, but may be able to spread south, around the mountains, to the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. Records from arid Baja California, Mexico indicate that A. gracilipes can invade and persist in areas with arid climates, perhaps due to moderating effects of irrigation.

Fiji (Sarnat & Economo, in prep): Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Taveuni, Kadavu, Gau, Koro, Moala, Lakeba, Beqa, Yasawa Is., Macuata Is., Nanui-i-Ra I.

Hawaii: Kauai, Oahu, Maui and Hawaii

Biology:

According to the IUCN/SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group A. gracilipes is among the 100 most pervasive and destructive invasive species in the world (Lowe, et al., 2000), and is most notably implicated in the 'ecological meltdown' of Christmas Island (O'Dowd, et al., 2001;2003). Introduced populations of Anoplolepis gracilipes can exhibit unicolonial behavior by forming multiple, populous high-density supercolonies. On Christmas Island, A. gracilipes was recorded to achieve the highest density of foraging ants ever recorded (Abbott, 2005). Colonies are polydomous and polygynous and disperse by budding. Nests occasionally hosting hundreds of queens and thousands of workers. The species has generalized foraging and nesting habits, and often achieve high densities in agricultural landscapes. Part of the species invasion success has been attributed to its strong mutualisms with nectar and honeydew producing insects like scales and aphids.

Identification:

Anoplolepis gracilipes is a large, slender, brownish yellow species most easily identified by it extraordinarily long limbs. The antennal scapes are greater than 1.5x the head length, and the full antennae are longer than the entire body from the apical tip of the mandibles to the distal tip of the gaster. The head is ovoid and distinctly longer than broad. The antennae are 11-segmented and the mandibles have 8 teeth. The eyes are large and bulge well beyond the outline of the head in full face view. The mesosoma is long and slender. The pronotum in particular, is extended anteriorly giving the appearance of a long 'neck'. The mesonotal dorsum slopes downward towards the propodeum. The propodeum is gently rounded and convex, with approximately equal posterior and dorsal faces. The petiolar node is thick and upright with a longer posterior face than anterior face. The gaster is armed with an acidopore and tends to be darker than the rest of the body.

Among introduced ants, Anoplolepis gracilipes might be mistaken for Paratrechina longicornis (the Black Crazy Ant), which also has very long antennae and legs and eyes that break the outline of the head in full face view. In addition to the difference in color, A. gracilipes can also be distinguished by the lack of erect hairs on the mesosoma, petiole and gaster. Anoplolepis gracilipes can also be mistaken for species of Leptomyrmex and Oecophylla because of their similar sizes and very long limbs. Anoplolepis can be distinguished from Leptomyrmex by the presence of an acidopore. Anoplolepis can be distinguished from Oecophylla by the more compact petiole.

Diagnosis among introduced and commonly intercepted ants.
Antenna 11-segmented. Antennal club indistinct. Antennal scape length greater than 1.5x head length. Eyes large; break outline of head. Antennal sockets and posterior clypeal margin separated by a distance equal to or greater than the minimum width of antennal  scape. Dorsum of mesosoma with metanotal impression, but never with a deep and broad concavity. Metapleuron with a distinct gland orifice. Propodeum and petiolar node both lacking a pair of short teeth. Propodeum lacking posteriorly projecting protrusion. Propodeal declivity less than twice length of propodeal dorsum. Waist 1-segmented. Petiole upright and not appearing flattened. Gaster armed with acidopore. Distinct constriction not visible between abdominal segments 3+4. Hairs not long thick and produced in pairs. Yellowish-brown to reddish-brown. Monomorphic.

References:

Abbott, K.L. (2005) Supercolonies of the invasive yellow crazy ant, Anoplolepis gracilipes, on an oceanic island: Forager activity patterns, density and biomass. Insect. Soc., 52, 266-273.

Lowe, S., Browne, M., Boudjelas, S. & De Poorter, M. (2000) 100 of the world's worst invasive species. Aliens, 12, s1-s12.

O'Dowd, D.J., Green, P.T. & Lake, P.S. (2001) Invasional meltdown in island rainforest. In: Ganeshaiah, K.N., Shaanker, R.U. & Bawa, K.S. (Eds.) Tropical ecosystems. Structure, diversity and human welfare. Oxford and IBH, New Delhi, pp. 447-450.

O'Dowd, D.J., Green, P.T. & Lake, P.S. (2003) Invasional 'meltdown' on an oceanic island. Ecol. Lett., 6, 812-817.

Wetterer, J.K. (2005) Worldwide distribution and potential spread of the long-legged ant, Anoplolepis gracilipes (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology, 45, 77-97.

Taxon Page Author History

On 2012-05-24 16:33:10 Eli Sarnat modified Identification
On 2011-11-09 14:22:53 Eli Sarnat modified Identification

Specimen Data Summary

Found most commonly in these habitats: 67 times found in dry forest, 46 times found in coastal forest, 35 times found in mangrove, 7 times found in rainforest, 2 times found in sugar cane field, 12 times found in secondary forest, 6 times found in degraded dry forest, 3 times found in port of entry/city, 10 times found in disturbed forest, 4 times found in palm forest, ...

Collected most commonly using these methods or in the following microhabitats: 17 times davis-sifting; incidental aspirated, 2 times 2 Maxi Winks, 3 times sweeping, 11 times aspirating; PB & maple syrup bait, 6 times Malaise trap, 1 trap, 10 times aspirating; PB bait, 2 times hand collection, bait, recruiting to, 8 times aspirating, 6 times aspirated, 3 times hand collection, 1 times 9 MaxiWinks, mixed samples, ...

Elevations: collected from 1 - 800 meters, 137 meters average

14 Specimens Imaged | View All 450 Specimens for this species

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