Distribution and habitat preferences of Galápagos ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Author
Herrera Léon Baert Wouter Dekoninck, Henri W.
Author
Causton, Charlotte E.
Author
Sevilla, Christian R.
Author
Pozo, Paola
Author
Hendrickx, Frederik
text
Belgian Journal of Entomology
2020
93
1
60
journal article
302430
10.5281/zenodo.13710313
83b9d93e-6482-4509-82e7-d477e479612b
2295-0214
13710313
2612CE09-F7FF-45CD-B52E-99F04DC2AA56
Nylanderia steinheili
(Forel, 1893)
(
ANTWEB
: CASENT0173233). (
Map 11
)
This species is found in tropical areas of Central, South America and some Caribbean islands (
KEMPF
, 1972
;
BRANDÃO
, 1991
;
BOLTON
et al.,
2006
).
Nylanderia steinheili
was likely introduced to the
Galapagos Islands
20-30 years ago. It was collected for the first time in
2003 in
the Humid Zone of
Santa Cruz
(
HERRERA
et al.,
2014
). Since then it has been found in the dry and humid areas and on six islands in the archipelago including in areas that are invaded by
W. auropunctata
and
S. geminata
. It has been found nesting under stones, logs, and rotten trunks. Workers were collected in gardens,
P. guajava
forest and open areas of urban, natural and cultivated zones.
Nylanderia steinheili
is also reported from shade–grown coffee zones and associated with anthropogenic areas. Its behavior in other parts of the world suggests that it is not a threat for the fauna of the archipelago (
VARGAS
et al.,
2006
;
MCGLYNN
&
KIRKSEY
, 2000
;
REYES
, 2010
;
KALLAL
&
LAPOLLA
, 2012
;
HERRERA
et al.,
2014
), however a monitoring program is suggested.