Wetterer, J.K.

Worldwide spread of the membraniferous dacetine ant, Strumigenys membranifera (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Strumigenys membranifera Emery, 1869 (tribe Dacetini) is a tiny predatory ant that has spread around the world through human commerce. To examine the worldwide distribution of S. membranifera, I compiled specimen records from > 300 sites. I documented the earliest known S. membranifera records for 74 geographic areas (countries, island groups, major Caribbean islands, and Us states), including many areas for which I found no previously published records: Arizona, Arkansas, Barbados, Barbuda, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Comoro Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Îles Éparses, India, Madagascar, Montserrat, Nevis, St Kitts, St Lucia, St Martin, Tobago, Trinidad, and Turks & Caicos Islands. Strumigenys membranifera is one of three Old World dacetine ants, along with Strumigenys rogeri Emery, 1890 and Strumigenys emmae (Emery, 1890), with widespread records in both the Old World and the New World. Whereas S. rogeri and S. emmae are almost exclusively tropical, S. membranifera has spread to higher latitudes. Strumigenys membranifera is the only one of the three species with outdoor populations in Europe, e.g., S. membranifera is common in urban parks of southern Spain. In the continental Us, S. membranifera has been found in 12 southern states, whereas S. rogeri and S. emmae have outdoor populations only in peninsular Florida. Strumigenys membranifera occurs in a broad range of habitats, including dense forest, cultivated fields, urban lawns, and gardens. Although predators often act as "keystone" species, having a disproportionate impact on the make up of the community, there is no information on what impact S. membranifera may be having on the native fauna in its native or exotic range.

Open access, licensed under CC BY 4.0. © 2011 The Author(s).

Biogeography, biological invasion, exotic species, invasive species.