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77 worldwide distribution and potential spread of the long-legged ant, Anoplolepis gracilipes (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

2005; UNIVERSIDADE ESTADUAL DE FEIRA DE SANTANA; Volume: 45; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

2447-8067

James K. Wetterer,

Animal and Plant Science Education

The long-legged ant, Anoplolepis gracilipes (formerly Anoplolepis longipes) has been long recognized for its impact on other invertebrates. In the past few years, however, A. gracilipes has been brought to world attentiondue to its deadly attacks on nesting birds in the Seychelles and on the endemic crabs of Christmas Island. To evaluate the distribution and potential spread of A. gracilipes, I compiled and mapped specimen records from more than 700 sites worldwide. 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 (Valparaiso, 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.