The distribution and abundance of this ant in TCI is not well known. It is believed to be quite restricted in distribution at the moment, with 5 to 10 populations occupying less than 10ha overall. (Booy, O. & Key, J., 2020. Prioritising the management of established invasive non-native species in the Turks and Caicos Islands: eradication and spread prevention.pdf); Common in disturbed and natural habitats. (Animal and Plant Health Agency (2020). Factsheets for 21 established invasive species of common concern to Anguilla and TCI for either eradication or control. FERA); Fire ants are present on most inhabited islands but species is uncertain.
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Invasive. (Booy, O. & Key, J., 2020. Prioritising the management of established invasive non-native species in the Turks and Caicos Islands: eradication and spread prevention.pdf);
Invasive ants can cause massive declines in species diversity as well as becoming a nuisance for people. In TCI, ant species pose a particular threat of spreading from the main islands to Ambergris and the Leeward Cays Island, where they could cause serious impacts on the endemic rock iguana, endemic lizards, breeding birds and breeding turtles found there. (Booy, O. & Key, J., 2020. Prioritising the management of established invasive non-native species in the Turks and Caicos Islands: eradication and spread prevention.pdf); Native biodiversity is adversely affected, and the ants are indiscriminate with what arthropod species they attack for food. They may outcompete native ant-fauna and attack ground-nesting populations of rodents, birds, reptiles and amphibians. (Animal and Plant Health Agency (2020). Factsheets for 21 established invasive species of common concern to Anguilla and TCI for either eradication or control. FERA);
Serious nuisance to people through its ability to sting. (Booy, O. & Key, J., 2020. Prioritising the management of established invasive non-native species in the Turks and Caicos Islands: eradication and spread prevention.pdf);
Serious nuisance to people through its ability to sting, impacting tourism and outdoor leisure activities. (Booy, O. & Key, J., 2020. Prioritising the management of established invasive non-native species in the Turks and Caicos Islands: eradication and spread prevention.pdf); They are a major agricultural pest and are a danger to livestock, irrigation systems, plants, fruits, seeds, buds, new growth and tubers. They tend phytophagous Hemiptera such as aphids and scale insects. (Animal and Plant Health Agency (2020). Factsheets for 21 established invasive species of common concern to Anguilla and TCI for either eradication or control. FERA);
Terrestrial. Native origins of South America. (Animal and Plant Health Agency (2020). Factsheets for 21 established invasive species of common concern to Anguilla and TCI for either eradication or control. FERA);
Important pathways of spread from the main island to the outer Cays include as hitchhikers in the backpacks of visitors, with general supplies taken over to service restaurants, and in camping equipment and provisions by researchers and campers. (Booy, O. & Key, J., 2020. Prioritising the management of established invasive non-native species in the Turks and Caicos Islands: eradication and spread prevention); Natural dispersal: primarily by the mated queens flying to start new nests but colony budding or nest fission (a newly inseminated queen, accompanied by some worker ants, establishes a new satellite colony) also occurs. Colonies may also be transported by water as when they form rafts”. Intentional/Anthropogenic dispersal: via plant and soil material, infested passenger luggage, empty sea containers, timber, hay, fresh produce etc. They can be transported via every manner of vehicle and any article of commerce. Colonies often contain many queens (polygynous) which if moved long distances further disperse the species. (Animal and Plant Health Agency (2020). Factsheets for 21 established invasive species of common concern to Anguilla and TCI for either eradication or control. FERA);
Pagad, S. & Wong, L.J., 2020. Global Register of Introduced and Invasive Species - Turks and Caicos Islands. Version 1.2. Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG). Checklist dataset. Available at: https://doi.org/10.15468/ytdnvt; Booy, O. & Key, J., 2020. Prioritising the management of established invasive non-native species in the Turks and Caicos Islands: eradication and spread prevention.pdf; Animal and Plant Health Agency (2020). Factsheets for 21 established invasive species of common concern to Anguilla and TCI for either eradication or control. FERA;