Exotic ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Ohio

Abstract

The worldwide transfer of plants and animals outside their native ranges is an ever increasing problem for global biodiversity. Ants are no exception and many species have been transported to new locations often with profound negative impacts on local biota. The current study is based on data gathered since the publication of the "Ants of Ohio" in 2005. Here I expand on our knowledge of Ohio's myrmecofauna by contributing new records, new distributional information and natural history notes. The list presented here contains 10 species with origins in a variety of geographic regions, including South America, Europe, Asia, and Indo-Australia. Two distinct groups of exotics, somewhat dissimilar in their geographic origin, occur in Ohio: a) 3 species of temperate Eurasian origin that have established reproducing outdoor populations; and b) 7 tropical tramp species currently confined to man-made structures. Only Nylanderia flavipes (Smith, 1874) is currently seen to be of concern although its effects on local ant communities appear to be restricted largely to already disturbed habitats. A systematic sampling of disturbed areas, urban sites, plant nurseries and conservatories, where new arrivals can be expected, would extend and build upon our current knowledge of Ohio's exotic ant fauna.

Six new non‐native ants (Formicidae) in the Canary Islands and their possible impacts

“…Human trading activity has been breaking down biogeographical barriers and spreading species around the world (Bertelsmeier, Ollier, Liebhold, & Keller, 2017). In fact, the new exotic ant species here reported originate from different regions ( (Ivanov, 2016). For example, P. bilimeki in central Europe is restricted to houses and greenhouses (AntWeb, 2019;Boer & Vierbergen, 2008).…”

The ants of Ohio (Hymenoptera, Formicidae): an updated checklist

“…Recently, Ivanov (2016) reviewed the exotic ant fauna of Ohio and listed ten nonnative taxa from the state. Earlier Ohio records of Tetramorium bicarinatum (Bolton 1979;Wetterer 2009) were overlooked and not included in the list.…”

“…Nonetheless, future collecting efforts are certain to add new taxa and provide additional locality records of known species building upon our knowledge of Ohio's myrmecofauna. (Ivanov 2016). Coovert (2005) includes an unspecified Ohio record in Arnett (1993).…”

“…Tapinoma Foerster * , E melanocephalum (Fabricius). Literature records: Butler, Cuyahoga, Franklin (Ivanov 2016). In Ohio, this widely distributed tramp species is currently confined to indoor situations and can be abundant in greenhouses, conservatories, and zoo buildings.…”

“…Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga (Ivanov 2016). This introduced workerless social parasite of Tetramorium immigrans Santschi previously was only known from Shelby Co. in western Ohio.…”