Invasive Ant Biology and Identification Allan Burne allan

Invasive Ant Biology and Identification Allan Burne allan. burne@vuw. ac. nz, Pacific Biosecurity, Victoria University of Wellington

This Workshop Overview • Ant Biology-life cycle reproduction and dispersal • Ant anatomy and characters • Types of ants (subfamilies) • The Pacific Invasive Ant (PIA)key • Using the microscope • Identification resources Outcomes • Knowledge of ant biology including life cycle reproduction and dispersal • Understanding of ant anatomy and characters used for identification • Understanding of the different types of ants • Familiarity with the PIA Key • Ability to use the microscope • Knowledge of Identification resources

Invasive Ant Biology and Identification PART 1. ANT BIOLOGY-LIFE CYCLE REPRODUCTION AND DISPERSAL

Three types of Ant QUEEN MALE WORKER

Killing workers does not kill nests! • The ants most commonly seen are workers • They do not produce eggs • Queens produce all the eggs • Queens are well protected and rarely seen Image: cdn. physorg. com

Ant life cycle • The life cycle is the same as a butterfly’s: egg, larva pupa, adult • Eggs and pupae do not need to eat. Image: Ask a Biologist website

Dispersal • Seasonal • Winged queens (alates) • Budding Photo: B. M. Drees. Photo: A. Bockoven.

Jump Dispersal • Nests may also be moved around unintentionally • Ants can move in to vehicles overnight. • Movement from HIGH RISK to HIGH VALUE areas Photos: Pestcemetry. com

Movement from HIGH RISK to HIGH VALUE areas High Risk High Value Photo: http: //pipa. neaq. org

Invasive Ant Biology and Identification PART 2. ANT ANATOMY AND DIAGNOSTIC CHARACTERS

Ant Anatomy Illustration: Wikimedia

Invasive Ant Biology and Identification PART 3. TYPES OF ANT (SUBFAMILIES)

It is impossible to know every ant! Figure: C. Moreau et al. , 2006

Ant subfamilies Myrmicinae Ponerinae Formicinae Dolichoderinae Illustrations: Eli Sarnat • 16 subfamilies • Four of concern in the Pacific: Myrmicinae, Ponerinae, Formicinae, Dolichoderinae • Separated by morphological characters

Ant Anatomy Illustration: Wikimedia

Which subfamily?

Which subfamily? Two petiole segments Myrmicinae

Which subfamily?

Which subfamily? Constriction between 1 st and 2 nd segments of the gaster Ponerinae

Which subfamily?

Which subfamily? Acidopore present Formicinae

Which subfamily?

Which subfamily? Similar characters to Formicinae, but no Acidipore Dolichoderinae

Invasive Ant Biology and Identification PART 4. THE PACIFIC INVASIVE ANT KEY

The Pacific Invasive Ant (PIA) key • Step by step identification of the most common invasive ants in the Pacific • Videos of ant behaviour

Invasive Ant Biology and Identification PART 5. USING THE MICROSCOPE

Using the microscope

Invasive Ant Biology and Identification PART 6. IDENTIFICATION RESOURCES

What to do if you find something Report to An individual report a find to ALD Division ALD report the find to the NPPO* SPC The NPPO reports the find to SPC who provide an identification IF the Identification reveals a pest a local response plan is activated

Identification Resources • Pestnet: www. pestnet. org • Global Invasive Species Database (GISD): www. issg. org/database • CABI Invasive Species Compendium: www. cabi. org/isc • Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER): www. hear. org/pier • Plant. Pono: www. plantpono. org

Identification Resources • Pacific Invasive Ant Key (PIAkey): http: //itp. lucidcentral. org/id/ant/pia/index. ht ml • SPC: MOU with NZ Ministry of Primary Industries Laboratory at Tamaki Campus – ID of Quarantine pests (Contact: Maclean Vaqalo, Macleanv@spc. int)

Record what you have got. • It is important to record the ant species that you find • Record when and where they were found. • Record the action you took • Record the outcome of that action

Five key steps to remember Photo: THEM! • Understanding ant biology is essential for ant control • Identification is achievable using a step by step key • Microscopes assist in identification • Always record what you find and what you did about it • When something suspicious is found follow process