This document is eeny369 in712, one of a series of featured creatures from the entomology and nematology department, ufifas extension. There may also be some positive economic impact from the entry of bigheaded ant to california. There are several species of ants found in or around houses in florida. The predatory behavior of pheidole megacephala article pdf available in comptes rendus biologies 3309. We performed 2 laboratory experiments to determine if the bigheaded ant, pheidole megacephala f. The introduced tramp ant, pheidole megacephala, is a well. Bigheaded ants have been shown to help control pest insects in some circumstances by consuming damaging pest insects that do not produce honeydew and replacing them with less damaging honeydew. The ant offers protection for its hemipteran partner, who show their gratitude by giving the ant a honeydew reward. Wing disc development during caste differentiation in the. This species is a cosmopolitan pest thought to have arisen in africa.
The bigheaded ant bha, pheidole megacephala fabricius, is a very successful invasive species that is sometimes considered a danger to native ants and has been nominated as among 100 of the worlds worst invaders hoffman 2006. The genus is predominantly a harvester ant genus, but p. The raiding success of pheidole megacephala on other ants. The most recent taxonomic treatments of the pheidole megacephala species. A survey of the distribution on bermuda of the ant species pheidole megacephala and iridomyrmex humilis was conducted from august 6 to august 16, 1973. Pheidole megacephala african bigheaded ant youtube. The pheidole megacephala compendium pmc highlights studies, notes, and my own personal accounts of one of the worlds most aggressive and invasive ant species, pheidole megacephala, which is commonly known as the big headed ant bha or coastal brown ant.
It is a serious threat to biodiversity through the displacement of native invertebrate fauna and is a pest of agriculture as it harvests seeds and harbours. Pheidole megacephala, on coral cays of the southern great barrier reef. Wilson 2003 estimates the number of its known species as close to 900, with a large number still to be described. Pdf the first record and distribution of the bigheaded ant, pheidole megacephala fabricius 1793 in the gala. Pheidole megacephala is an exotic ant species that has severely affected native invertebrate biodiversity throughout the tropics. This study investigated direct and indirect interactions between the ant, pheidole megacephala fabr. Eleven species out of 12 put up a rather strong resistance to raiding p. The predatory behavior of pheidole megacephala article pdf available in comptes rendus biologies 330. According to hoffman 2006, incubation time of eggs ranges from to 32 days. Effect of irradiation on the longevity and reproduction of.
Invasive ants as a biosecurity threat home food and. It is a very successful invasive species and is considered a danger to native ants in australia and other places. Pdf an ants pheidole megacephala is a highly invasive insect, although the degree of invasiveness differs geographically. The estimated phylogenetic relationships were in agreement with previous studies that recovered pheidole fimbriata and pheidole rhea as basal to the rest of pheidole.
Pheidole megacephala is a common tramp ant around the globe. Both ant species preferred fruit fly pupae and diamondback moth larvae to tuna and peanut butter. Pheidole megacephala ant factsheets manaaki whenua. Kenneth grace1,2 abstract using both individual and group behavioral assays, we evaluated agonistic. Formicidae with the polyphagus pest xylosandrus compactus coleoptera. Both the speciestree and concatenated analysis recovered the monophyly of all old world pheidole with the crown node dated to 22.
Piakey manual pacific invasive ants taxonomy workshop manual can both be. It, perhaps, is worth noting that although they examined many specimens, from africa they listed only a few samples from east africa and very few of the. The genus first evolved in the americas, eventually spreading across the globe. Work plan to guide the eradication of the african big. Here we conducted histological examinations of wing discs during larval development in p. Abstract pheidole megacephala is an exotic ant species that has severely affected native invertebrate biodiversity throughout the tropics. It is present in many environments in australia, the south pacific and southeast asia loope and krushelnycky, 2007. While every effort has been made to provide the most reliable and uptodate information available, ultimate legal requirements with respect to species are contained in.
Sculpture on the minor worker is restricted to the middle and posterior portions. Pheidole is a genus of ants that belongs to the ant subfamily myrmicinae. Pdf pheidole megacephala fabricius 1793 hymenoptera. In the pacific region, the african bigheaded ant, pheidole megacephala, is now widespread in tropical areas. This category has the following 189 subcategories, out of 189 total. Myrmicinae 3 shed their wings and find a nest site where they will begin laying eggs. Here we describe the extent of an established colony of p. Eeny369 bigheaded ant, pheidole megacephala fabricius insecta. Studies on foraging behavior of field populations of a. Influence of brood on the nutritional preferences of the. Top 5 mind blowing magician america and britains got talent 2016 duration.
It has been believed that the larvae of major workers have prominent mesothoracic wing discs, although the minor worker larvae lack them. It has been nominated as one of the hundred worlds worst invaders. This species is unicolonial, forms supercolonies is highly aggressive, and quickly dominates natural arthropod. Follett1 and glenn taniguchi2 1usdaars, pacific basin agricultural research center, po box 4459, hilo, hi 96720, email. Direct and indirect interactions between ants pheidole. The minor workers are small, yellow to brown, small propodeal spines, and no antennal scrobes.
Images pheidole megacephala images starr images of pheidole megacephala formicidae bigheaded ant are provided by from forest and kim starr pheidole megacephala images and species overview high quality photographs, identification, and natural history information on the bigheaded ant are presented on this page from the evergreen state college. Believed to be native to southern africa, it is now found throughout the temperate and tropical zones of the world. Pheidole megacephala is a species of ant in the family formicidae. Bigheaded ant, pheidole megacephala fabricius insecta. The following information is derived from barry boltons new general catalogue, a catalogue of the worlds ants duplex. Pheidole megacephala larva feeding timelapse duration.
The bha has been a pest in southern florida for many years, and according to reports by pest control operators, has become the most pervasive. Major and minor workers have been collected in the towns of puerto baquerizo moreno san cristo. Its impacts have been documented extensively in relatively depauperate invertebrate communities, but not in speciesrich habitats such as tropical rain forests. With the evening rains have come the thousands of ants. To examine the influence of ants on scales and host plants, scale population densities, scale mortality rates, and plant performance were studied on control host plants with ants and host plants. However, it is not a legal authority for statutory or regulatory purposes. Pheidole megacephala shot of the main nest 2 youtube.
Agonistic responses of the tramp ants anoplolepis gracilipes, pheidole megacephala, linepithema humile, and wasmannia auropunctata hymenoptera. Global phylogenetic structure of the hyperdiverse ant. In general, the most common ants can be grouped as house. On most inhabited tropical islands in the pacific, p. Curculionidea author links open overlay panel rajab ogogol a james p. The first record and distribution of the bigheaded ant, pheidole megacephala fabricius 1793 in the gala. Pheidole megacephala receives a high3 in this category.
Summary the genus pheidole has three distinct castes in females. Biology and impacts of pacific island invasive species. Interaction of the predatory ant pheidole megacephala. It is commonly known as the bigheaded ant in the usa and the coastal brown ant in australia. They form continuous supercolonies that out competes with most oth. Pdf invasive african bigheaded ants, pheidole megacephala, on. Itis taxonomy is based on the latest scientific consensus available, and is provided as a general reference source for interested parties. Medium pheidole megacephala is a common species in the pacific with two waist segments, 12segmented antennae, 3segmented antennal clubs, propodeal spines, long thin pilosity, and a bimorphic worker caste.
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