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Publication
Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Madeiran Archipelago
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
The subtropical Atlantic archipelago of Madeira is part of the Macaronesian
biogeographic subregion. Absence of important mainland competitors and
predators on Macaronesian islands has allowed the survival of many relicts of
the subtropical biota that once inhabited the Mediterranean area. In the 19th
century, however, two highly destructive exotic ant species, the big-headed ant
(Pheidole megacephala) and the Argentine ant (Linepithema humile), invaded
Madeira. Many authors have assumed that these invaders exterminated most
or all native ants of Madeira, despite no research actually documenting such
impact. In the present study, we compiled records and evaluated the native
versus exotic status of all ant species collected in Madeira.
We examined specimens of 27 ant species from Madeira: Cardiocondyla
emeryi, Cardiocondyla mauritanica, Hypoponera eduardi, Hypoponera punc tatissima, Hypoponera sp. 1, Lasius grandis, Linepithema humile, Messor
structor, Monomorium carbonarium, Monomorium pharaonis, Monomorium
subopacum, Myrmecina graminicola, Paratrechina jaegerskioeldi, Paratrechina
longicornis, Pheidole megacephala, Pheidole pallidula, Plagiolepis schmitzii,
Pyramica membranifera, Solenopsis sp. 1, Solenopsis sp. 2, Strumigenys silvest rii, Tapinoma madeirense (new status), Technomyrmex pallipes, Temnothorax
unifasciatus, Temnothorax wollastoni, Tetramorium bicarinatum, and Tetra morium caldarium. One previously reported species, Camponotus sylvaticus,
we could not verify with specimens, but accept it was correctly identified, at
least to genus. We determined that one ant taxon reported from Madeira is
a junior synonym of another taxon present: Plagiolepis schmitzii madeirensis (= P. schmitzii, new synonymy). In addition, published records of eight ant
taxa reported from Madeira appear to be misidentifications of other species
present.
Based on their known distribution and ecology, ten ant species (including
the seven most common species) appear to be native to Madeira. Only one
native ant species, T. wollastoni, has not been collected recently (1995 or
later) in Madeira. Although exotic ants may have exterminated T. wollastoni,
it seems likely that this species still survives.
Description
Keywords
Ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) Madeiran Archipelago (Portugal) . Faculdade de Ciências da Vida
Citation
Wetterer, J. K., Espadaler, X., Wetterer, A. L., Aguin-Pombo, D., & Franquinho-Aguiar, A. M. (2007). Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Madeiran Archipelago. Sociobiology, 49(3), 265-297.
Publisher
Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana