Plagiolepis alluaudi, the little yellow ant, is a species of Plagiolepis. The species is native to Madagascar, an island off the coast of East Africa. It is known to be a widespread invasive species. In an effort to distinguish its name from other small and yellow species of ant it may be called Alluaud's little yellow ant, after Charles A. Alluaud.[1]
Plagiolepis alluaudi is a very small ant averaging 1⁄16 of an inch (1.6 mm) in total length. It is yellow in color, has a rounded head, and has eleven antennal segments. The only other yellow ant in the genus Plagiolepis is P. exigua, which has an oblong head. P. alluaudi may also be confused with workers of the genus Brachymyrmex, which have nine antennal segments.[1]
Ecologyedit
Plagiolepis alluaudi consumes honeydew, a product of plant sap that is produced by insects such as aphids, mealybugs, and scale insects. P. alluaudi is known to protect these insect species—which are often agricultural pests—from predators, going so far as to raise the pests' offspring in their nest until the larvae reach adulthood.[2]
Plagiolepis alluaudi is not known to bite or sting humans. However, it can be a threat to agricultural crops, such as citrus, by protecting other insect species that transmit disease. P. alluaudi may also enter human homes to eat sweet foods. Established colonies are difficult to eradicate, but placing ant baits outside may eliminate parts of a large colony at one time.[3]
As an invasive speciesedit
Plagiolepis alluaudi is generally introduced on land to which they are not native via shipping lanes. It has been documented in England, Germany, Switzerland, the Pacific Islands,[1][4]Catalina Island (California),[5]Hawaii,[6] and the Caribbean. P. alluaudi is considered a pest on Pacific islands and in European greenhouses.[1] In 2017, established colonies of the species were found in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The species will likely thrive there due to the warm and moist climate of South Florida.[3]
^Fleshler 2017: "So prized are these agricultural pests by the ants, that ants have been known to bring the sap-sucking insects’ larvae to their nests, where they grow to adulthood."
^Collingwood, Cedric A; van Harten, Antonius (July 31, 2001). "The Ants (Hym., Formicidae) of Niue, South West Pacific" (PDF). Entomologist's Monthly Magazine. 137: 139–143. Retrieved 2017-11-16 – via antwiki.org.
^Ward, Philip S (2005). "A synoptic review of the ants of California (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)" (PDF). Zootaxa. 936. Auckland, N.Z.: Magnolia Press: 1–68. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.936.1.1. ISBN1877354988. OCLC 70894112.
^Kirschenbaum, Ranit; Grace, J. Kenneth (2007). "Dominant Ant Species in Four Habitats in Hawaii (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)" (PDF). Sociobiology. 50 (3): 1069–1073. Retrieved 2017-11-16.
Sourcesedit
Fleshler, David (November 2, 2017). . Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on 2017-11-03.
Wetterer, James K (2013). "Worldwide spread of Alluaud's little yellow ant, Plagiolepis alluaudi (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)". Myrmecol. News. 19: 53–59. ISSN 1994-4136. Retrieved 2017-11-16 – via ResearchGate.
External linksedit
Media related to Plagiolepis alluaudi at Wikimedia Commons
May 13, 2024
plagiolepis, alluaudi, little, yellow, species, plagiolepis, species, native, madagascar, island, coast, east, africa, known, widespread, invasive, species, effort, distinguish, name, from, other, small, yellow, species, called, alluaud, little, yellow, after,. Plagiolepis alluaudi the little yellow ant is a species of Plagiolepis The species is native to Madagascar an island off the coast of East Africa It is known to be a widespread invasive species In an effort to distinguish its name from other small and yellow species of ant it may be called Alluaud s little yellow ant after Charles A Alluaud 1 Plagiolepis alluaudi Profile of P alluaudi from AntWeb Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Arthropoda Class Insecta Order Hymenoptera Family Formicidae Subfamily Formicinae Genus Plagiolepis Species P alluaudi Binomial name Plagiolepis alluaudiEmery 1894 Synonyms Plagiolepis augusti Plagiolepis foreli Plagiolepis mactavishi Plagiolepis ornata Contents 1 Physical description 2 Ecology 3 Human interaction 3 1 As an invasive species 4 References 5 Sources 6 External linksPhysical description edit nbsp Head of P alluaudi showing antennal segments Plagiolepis alluaudi is a very small ant averaging 1 16 of an inch 1 6 mm in total length It is yellow in color has a rounded head and has eleven antennal segments The only other yellow ant in the genus Plagiolepis is P exigua which has an oblong head P alluaudi may also be confused with workers of the genus Brachymyrmex which have nine antennal segments 1 Ecology editPlagiolepis alluaudi consumes honeydew a product of plant sap that is produced by insects such as aphids mealybugs and scale insects P alluaudi is known to protect these insect species which are often agricultural pests from predators going so far as to raise the pests offspring in their nest until the larvae reach adulthood 2 Colonies of P alluaudi contain thousands of egg laying queen ants forming supercolonies 3 Human interaction editPlagiolepis alluaudi is not known to bite or sting humans However it can be a threat to agricultural crops such as citrus by protecting other insect species that transmit disease P alluaudi may also enter human homes to eat sweet foods Established colonies are difficult to eradicate but placing ant baits outside may eliminate parts of a large colony at one time 3 As an invasive species edit Plagiolepis alluaudi is generally introduced on land to which they are not native via shipping lanes It has been documented in England Germany Switzerland the Pacific Islands 1 4 Catalina Island California 5 Hawaii 6 and the Caribbean P alluaudi is considered a pest on Pacific islands and in European greenhouses 1 In 2017 established colonies of the species were found in Fort Lauderdale Florida The species will likely thrive there due to the warm and moist climate of South Florida 3 References edit a b c d Wetterer 2013 Fleshler 2017 So prized are these agricultural pests by the ants that ants have been known to bring the sap sucking insects larvae to their nests where they grow to adulthood a b c Fleshler 2017 Collingwood Cedric A van Harten Antonius July 31 2001 The Ants Hym Formicidae of Niue South West Pacific PDF Entomologist s Monthly Magazine 137 139 143 Retrieved 2017 11 16 via antwiki org Ward Philip S 2005 A synoptic review of the ants of California Hymenoptera Formicidae PDF Zootaxa 936 Auckland N Z Magnolia Press 1 68 doi 10 11646 zootaxa 936 1 1 ISBN 1877354988 OCLC 70894112 Kirschenbaum Ranit Grace J Kenneth 2007 Dominant Ant Species in Four Habitats in Hawaii Hymenoptera Formicidae PDF Sociobiology 50 3 1069 1073 Retrieved 2017 11 16 Sources editFleshler David November 2 2017 Nasty little yellow ant establishes first U S colonies in Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel Archived from the original on 2017 11 03 Wetterer James K 2013 Worldwide spread of Alluaud s little yellow ant Plagiolepis alluaudi Hymenoptera Formicidae Myrmecol News 19 53 59 ISSN 1994 4136 Retrieved 2017 11 16 via ResearchGate External links edit nbsp Media related to Plagiolepis alluaudi at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Plagiolepis alluaudi amp oldid 1107554852, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
