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Figure 2. Linepithema humile, profile view of worker.

Figure 2 Linepithema humile, profile view of worker.

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Figure 1. Solenopsis invicta, profile view of worker. Pe a Oe, Oe ae A TE Te ere Invasive ant species have a great economic impact in the U.S. One of the most infamous invasive ant species in the US is the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae) (Figure 1), first reported in the US from Mobile, Alabama. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), more than 5 billion US dollars are spent annually on medical treatment, damage, and control of red imported fire ants (McDonald 2006). Similarly, large sums of money are spent annually to control Argentine ants, Linepithema humile (Mayr) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Dolichoderinae) (Figure 2). Argentine ants were first reported from New Orleans in the late 1890’s, and are now considered to be one of the too 100 invasive animal species in the world (McGlynn 1999).
Figure 1. Solenopsis invicta, profile view of worker. Pe a Oe, Oe ae A TE Te ere Invasive ant species have a great economic impact in the U.S. One of the most infamous invasive ant species in the US is the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae) (Figure 1), first reported in the US from Mobile, Alabama. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), more than 5 billion US dollars are spent annually on medical treatment, damage, and control of red imported fire ants (McDonald 2006). Similarly, large sums of money are spent annually to control Argentine ants, Linepithema humile (Mayr) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Dolichoderinae) (Figure 2). Argentine ants were first reported from New Orleans in the late 1890’s, and are now considered to be one of the too 100 invasive animal species in the world (McGlynn 1999).
The explosive spread of Brachymyrmex patagonicus from early isolated populations in Mobile, Alabama and southern Louisiana in the late 1970’s to being widespread throughout the Southeast and west to California was documented by MacGown et al. (2007). At the time of that study, B. patagonicus was widespread in Louisiana, southern to central Mississippi and Alabama, central to northern Florida, and central to southern Georgia, and found less commonly in southern Arkansas and eastern Texas.
The explosive spread of Brachymyrmex patagonicus from early isolated populations in Mobile, Alabama and southern Louisiana in the late 1970’s to being widespread throughout the Southeast and west to California was documented by MacGown et al. (2007). At the time of that study, B. patagonicus was widespread in Louisiana, southern to central Mississippi and Alabama, central to northern Florida, and central to southern Georgia, and found less commonly in southern Arkansas and eastern Texas.
Figure 5. Pseudomyrmex gracilis, profile view of worker.
Figure 5. Pseudomyrmex gracilis, profile view of worker.
Figure 6. Hypoponera punctatissima, profile view of alate female. ey ae SS OIE EI EE NI EEE punctatissima group known to occur in the United States. Workers of H. punctatissima are small (2.0-2.5 mm), brownish-yellow to almost black, have small eyes with 1-6 ommatidia that are placed on the sides of the head near the base of the mandibles, 12-segmented antennae, a one-segmented waist, and an obvious sting. Queens are similar, but are slightly larger, have much larger eyes with numerous ommatidia, and have wings (alates). Both workers and queens of H. punctatissima can differentiated from other species of Hypoponera found in Mississippi by their small size. The related Ponera exotica Smith is similar in size and general appearance, but can be easily differentiated by the presence of a fovea on the subpetiolar process.
Figure 6. Hypoponera punctatissima, profile view of alate female. ey ae SS OIE EI EE NI EEE punctatissima group known to occur in the United States. Workers of H. punctatissima are small (2.0-2.5 mm), brownish-yellow to almost black, have small eyes with 1-6 ommatidia that are placed on the sides of the head near the base of the mandibles, 12-segmented antennae, a one-segmented waist, and an obvious sting. Queens are similar, but are slightly larger, have much larger eyes with numerous ommatidia, and have wings (alates). Both workers and queens of H. punctatissima can differentiated from other species of Hypoponera found in Mississippi by their small size. The related Ponera exotica Smith is similar in size and general appearance, but can be easily differentiated by the presence of a fovea on the subpetiolar process.
Pachyconayla chinensis was first reported [sensu Euponera solitaria (F. Smith)] as occurring in the US in Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia (Smith 1934). Populations of this species were not reported as being noticeably high until 2006 when researchers documented large populations in North Carolina and South Carolina that were displacing native ants in natural wooded habitats and stinging individuals (Guénard and Dunn 2010). Since then, this species has been reported from Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, Washington, and Wisconsin (Dunn and Menninger 2013, Guénard and Dunn 2010, MacGown 2009b). The Florida record was isolated, and no new records have been reported from Alabama Pachycondyla chinensis nests may be found in rotting logs and stumps, in standing trees, in soil, or in and under debris. In urban settings, it may be found under mulch, railroad ties, bricks and pavers. Colony size ranges from fewer than 100 individuals to several thousand, and multiple queens may be present. Unlike many introduced, invasive ant species, Asian needle ants often nest in natural wooded habitats and may reduce biodiversity (Nelder et al. 2006). De ee Oe el es es , es Se ce me me le ae a a es se
Pachyconayla chinensis was first reported [sensu Euponera solitaria (F. Smith)] as occurring in the US in Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia (Smith 1934). Populations of this species were not reported as being noticeably high until 2006 when researchers documented large populations in North Carolina and South Carolina that were displacing native ants in natural wooded habitats and stinging individuals (Guénard and Dunn 2010). Since then, this species has been reported from Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, Washington, and Wisconsin (Dunn and Menninger 2013, Guénard and Dunn 2010, MacGown 2009b). The Florida record was isolated, and no new records have been reported from Alabama Pachycondyla chinensis nests may be found in rotting logs and stumps, in standing trees, in soil, or in and under debris. In urban settings, it may be found under mulch, railroad ties, bricks and pavers. Colony size ranges from fewer than 100 individuals to several thousand, and multiple queens may be present. Unlike many introduced, invasive ant species, Asian needle ants often nest in natural wooded habitats and may reduce biodiversity (Nelder et al. 2006). De ee Oe el es es , es Se ce me me le ae a a es se
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