A survey of ants in Old Town Key West in Florida and a review of Pheidole megacephala as an archetypal “hegemonic” species

Citation: Sunjian, A (2018). A survey of ants in Old Town Key West in Florida and a review of Pheidole megacephala as an archetypal “hegemonic” species. The Pm Compendium (PMC). https://pheidolemegacephala.blogspot.com/2018/06/a-survey-of-ants-in-old-town-key-west.html

Abstract:

A two-day visual survey of Old Town Key West in Florida in May 2018 was conducted to determine the distribution of urban ants in this city. The census covered approximately 230 hectares and revealed that the area was partitioned into mutually exclusive territories by a Pheidole megacephala cluster on the northern end, and fire ant colonies (Solenopsis invicta and S. geminata) towards the south, although various other non-dominant species were also present. Only a single specimen of the formerly dominant Trichomyrmex destructor was collected during the survey, and its replacement in the city center is discussed within the context of a detailed review of the role of P. megacephala as a so-called “hegemonic species”.

PDF of Full Article:

A survey of ants in Old Town Key West in Florida and a review of Pheidole megacephala as an archetypal “hegemonic” species

Pheidole megacephala in Harare, Zimbabwe

Note Citation: Wetterer, JK (2018). Pheidole megacephala in Harare, Zimbabwe . The Pm Compendium (PMC). https://pheidolemegacephala.blogspot.com/2018/03/new-records-of-pheidole-megacephala-in.html

Dr. James Wetterer, whose research focuses on the distribution and ecology of invasive ant species, surveyed Harare in Zimbabwe, as well as the town of Kariba, and some points in between in 2012.

He noted that "at all sites in Harare and a nearby game reserve, Pheidole megacephala dominates and few other species are to be found. I don't even find other widespread tramps."

Click here for google map of P. megacephala samples.

What are colony clusters?

I noticed I used the term "colony cluster" in the latest survey, so I wanted to define what the term means.

Although P. megacephala forms supercolonies, some of which may extend for thousands of kilometers, it is unlikely that they form a spatially contiguous and continuous population over entire land masses.

In this case, I wanted to use the term "colony cluster" to refer to a discrete population of a unicolonial species that is spatially separated more or less from other clusters within the supercolony. The separation may have come about because of natural or human-mediated dispersal of a propagule, or it may have been created by the partitioning of a larger community into separate communities due to encroachment by other species or other natural events.

Based on some studies, such colony clusters can remain active and viable for decades, something which is not possible for monogyne species.

A new page in the website is now dedicated to listing maps of P. megacephala clusters and the surrounding ant communities, which will hopefully be of help to researchers studying ant distribution and ecology.

A comprehensive survey and mapping of the Pheidole megacephala colony cluster in Bridgetown, Barbados

Citation: Sunjian, A (2018). A comprehensive survey and mapping of the Pheidole megacephala colony cluster  in Bridgetown, Barbados . The Pm Compendium (PMC). https://pheidolemegacephala.blogspot.com/2018/02/a-comprehensive-survey-and-mapping-of.html

ABSTRACT

A visual survey of the downtown area of Bridgetown Barbados in January 2018 revealed the presence of Pheidole megacephala. It was the most collected species during the study, and was the only dominant ant present in the location. A mapping of the current range of this colony “cluster” showed that it extended at least from the Pelican Village Craft Center on the west to Independence Square on the east, with the northernmost limit near the James Street Methodist Church, a combined area of approximately 21 hectares. The possible introduction of this species into Barbados via a major renovation to the city port facilities in 2002 is discussed.

Click below for complete article in PDF format (revision date 2018-02-19):

A comprehensive survey and mapping of the Pheidole megacephala Colony Cluster in Bridgetown, Barbados