Species: Cephalotes varians

Taxonomic History (provided by Barry Bolton, 2013)

Distribution:

Incomplete list
USA: Florida. Considered native in Fisher & Cover (2007).
Caribbean: Bahamas, Cuba (type locality)

Biology:

There is some question as to whether the Florida population of C. varians is native (e.g. Deyrup et al., 1988; Deyrup et al., 2000)or introduced (e.g. Wittenborn & Jeschke, 2011). The species is otherwise known only from the Bahamas and Cuba (De Andrade & Baroni Urbani, 1999). Deyrup et al. (2000)refrained from classifying C. varians as introduced to Florida, arguing that the species may have been transported in floating trees, and dislodged mangroves in particular. Non-native Cephalotes species, including the widespread C. pusillus (Klug), are occasionally intercepted at US ports of entry.

References:

De Andrade, M.L. & Baroni Urbani, C. (1999) Diversity and adaptation in the ant genus Cephalotes, past and present. Stuttg. Beitr. Naturkd. Ser. B (Geol. Palaontol.), 271, 1-889.

Deyrup, M., Carlin, N., Trager, J. & Umphrey, G. (1988) A review of the ants of the Florida Keys. Florida Entomol., 71, 163-176.

Deyrup, M., Davis, L. & Cover, S. (2000) Exotic ants in Florida. Trans. Am. Entomol. Soc., 126, 293-326.

Wittenborn, D. & Jeschke, J. (2011) Characteristics of exotic ants in North America. NeoBiota, 10, 47-64.

Taxon Page Author History

On 2012-06-14 13:48:02 Eli Sarnat modified References
On 2012-06-14 13:47:48 Eli Sarnat modified References
On 2012-06-14 13:47:00 Eli Sarnat modified Biology

Specimen Data Summary

Found most commonly in these habitats: 1 times found in dry thorn scrub

Collected most commonly using these methods or in the following microhabitats: 1 times search

Elevations: collected at 50 m

6 Specimens Imaged | View All 26 Specimens for this species

CASENT0103754

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CASENT0103755

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CASENT0103758

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CASENT0103759

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CASENT0103760

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CASENT0900251

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