Acromyrmex octospinosus on Guadeloupe
Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2016 10:17 pm
Read a paper recently.
In 1954 Acromyrmex octospinosus was discovered for the first time on the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe. Previously it had not existed. Over the next few years it started to spread at the rate of around 0.5km per year from the area it was first seen. Despite the authorities there implementing a widespread campaign of insecticide use and other control measures, these were quickly abandoned when it became clear that the ants were out of control. It is though that this population started from the arrival of either a mated queen or an incipient colony and genetic analysis seems to point to Trinidad as the likely origin of this initial arrival. By 2003 there was only a small amount of the island left unpopulated and no Acromyrmex octospinosus is a major pest across the island. Lots of interesting implications of this. Also quite a dramatic illustration of how effective an invasive species the higher attines can potentially be.
In 1954 Acromyrmex octospinosus was discovered for the first time on the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe. Previously it had not existed. Over the next few years it started to spread at the rate of around 0.5km per year from the area it was first seen. Despite the authorities there implementing a widespread campaign of insecticide use and other control measures, these were quickly abandoned when it became clear that the ants were out of control. It is though that this population started from the arrival of either a mated queen or an incipient colony and genetic analysis seems to point to Trinidad as the likely origin of this initial arrival. By 2003 there was only a small amount of the island left unpopulated and no Acromyrmex octospinosus is a major pest across the island. Lots of interesting implications of this. Also quite a dramatic illustration of how effective an invasive species the higher attines can potentially be.