Pheidole megacephala (Formicidae) big-headed ant

Species description or overview

Ecology of Pheidole megacephala from ISSG
The ecology, distribution, habitat, and management of Pheidole megacephala are presented in this Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) site.

Pheidole megacephala (Fabricius) information from Landcare Research (New Zealand)
This overview of Pheidole megacephala includes classification, synonyms, distribution, biology, and pest status from the Landcare Research of Biosecurity New Zealand.

Identification

Pheidole megacephala images from PaDIL
Identifying information and diagnostic images of Pheidole megacephala are presented by the Plant and Disease Image Library.

Taxonomy & nomenclature

Pheidole megacephala (Fabricius, 1793) taxonomy from ITIS
ITIS, the Integrated Taxonomic Information System, lists taxonomic data for Pheidole megacephala and allows searches of other databases.

Pest alerts

Impacts

Assessment of agonism among invasive ant species in Hawaii using individual and group bioassays (abstract)
Agonistic behavior among five invasive ant species in Hawaii were assessed, with Pheidole megacephala displaying the highest level of aggression (Entomological Society America Annual Meeting, 2006).

Pheidole megacephala predation on Hawaiian crickets
Pheidole megacephala predation may be causing the population drop of the Laupala cricket in the Keahou area of Kauai.

Assessment of the effects of ants on Hawaiian crickets
Pheidole megacephala predation may be causing the population drop of the Laupala cricket in the Keahou area of Kauai. (abstract, Journal of Orthoptera Research, 2000)

The effect of alien predatory ants on Hawaiian endemic spiders (abstract, Pacific Science, 1993)
Alien ants may prey on native spiders, limiting the spiders' distribution in native and disturbed forests.

Behavioral responses of the Formosan subterranean termite to semiochemicals of seven ant species (abstract)
Formosan termites responded differently to semiochemicals of different ant species ( Environmental Entomology, 1994) .

Effects of Pheidole megacephala (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) on survival and dispersal of Dysmicoccus neobrevipes (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae) (abstract)
Pheidole megacephala might not increase mealy bug populations on pineapple nor aid in their transmission between fruit, contrary to previous assumptions (Journal of Economic Entomology, 1996).

Nature's sovereignty rules northwestern Hawaiian isles (article)
New species of marine sponges, rapidly growing alien weeds, big-headed ants and abundant sea life are only a few of the findings by state and federal scientists surveying ecological resources in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (Honolulu Star-Bulletin, October 14, 2000, by Helen Altonn).

Ant - mealy bug relations in pineapple in South Africa (abstract)
The pineapple mealybug (Dysmicoccus brevipes Ckll.) has largely been controlled on pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.) by controlling the big-headed ant.

Introduced species in Hawaii: Hymenoptera: Formicidae
The factors that make the Argentine ant, the long legged ant, and the big-headed ant successful and detrimental invaders in Hawaii are discussed in this senior seminar presentation from Earlham College.

Dispersal and pathways

Control methods

Preliminary field tests on the suitability of Amdro and Distance in ant bait container for control of the big-headed ant, Pheidole megacephala
Various bait containers used in the control of big-headed ant in agricultural situations were tested, and the short-term effects of environmental conditions on the potency of Amdro was monitored.

Eradication of two exotic ants from Kakadu National Park (Australia) 
The African big-headed ant (Pheidole megacephala) and the tropical fire ant (Solenopsis geminata) were successfully eradicated from the Kakadu National Park through a disciplined program of assessment, treatment, and monitoring.

Review of the efficacy of baits used for ant control and eradication
Ant species have varying responses to toxins and baits used for their control. This extensive review of published reports is a preamble to the development of recommendations for New Zealand.

Acceptability of different sugars and oils to three tropical ant species (abstract)
The acceptability of six sugars and oils to Pheidole megacephala, Ochetellus glaber, and Paratrechina longicornis was examined to determine potential preferences for bait.

Discussion forums

Images

Pheidole megacephala images and species overview
High quality photographs, identification, and natural history information on the big-headed ant are presented on this page from The Evergreen State College.

Pheidole megacephala information from the Japanese Ant Image Database
Images and identifying information for Pheidole megacephala are presented on this J-Ant site.

Pheidole megacephala images from AntWeb
This AntWeb site allows comparisons of close-up images of individuals within the species Pheidole megacephala.

Common black ant (Pheidole megacephala) SEM image
This SEM (scanning electron microscope) image of Pheidole megacephala is a full lateral view.

Distribution

Pheidole megacephala -- Big-Headed Ant
This clickable map shows the distribution of this species around the world.

Pheidole megacephala and Iridomyrmex humilis in Bermuda - equilibrium or slow replacement? (abstract, Ecology, 1965)
Iridomyrmex humilis may be replacing populations of Pheidole megacephala just as earlier invasions of P. megacephala replaced original ant species in Bermuda.

Bermudian ants revisited: the status and interaction of Pheidole megacephala and Iridomyrmex humilis (Ecology, abstract, 1975)
Differences in food preferences between Pheidole megacephala and Iridomyrmex humilis indicate the competition between the two species is largely spacial and a population equilibrium is possible in Bermuda.

Nonindigenous ants associated with geothermal and human disturbance in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (abstract)
Ants were common in areas disturbed by geothermal or human activity in HawaiiVolcanoes National Park, but rare in undisturbed forest. Warmth generated by geothermal activity extended the range of some lowland ant species (Pacific Science, 1998).

Biology and impacts of pacific island invasive species: the African big-headed ant, Pheidole megacephala (abstract, Pacific Science, 2007)
Currently P. megacephala is known from virtually every tropical island group in the Pacific but not from many islands within the groups, particularly uninhabited islands.

The interaction between the coastal brown ant, Pheidole megacephala (Fabricius), and other invertebrate fauna of Mt Coot-tha (Brisbane, Australia)
The presence of Pheidole megacephala apparently depresses populations of other ant species (Austral Ecology, 1997, abstract).

Insects and other invertebrates from Laysan Island (1963) 
This paper provides an annotated list of the insects and other invertebrates recorded from Laysan Island in the Leeward Chain of the Hawaiian Islands. Historical records and references for several ant species are included.

Proposal to study Pheidole megacephala on Kure Atoll.
This document is a preliminary and exploratory proposal prepared for the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources for investigating the populations of the tramp ant Pheidole megacephala, a destructive pest endangering the ecosystem on Kure Atoll, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

A survey of urban pest ants in the Florida peninsula (Florida Entomologist, 1995) 
Eight species of ants were identified as key pests in Florida. The most common were Solenopsis invicta (14%), Tapinoma melanocephalum (14%), Paratrechina longicornis (14%), Camponotus abdominalis floridanus (12%), Monomorium pharaonis (11%), Camponotus tortuganus (8%), Pheidole megacephala (7%), and Paratrechina bourbonica (4%).

Fiji Ant Project information
Anoplolepis gracilipes, Paratrechina vaga, Pheidole megacephala and Solenopsis geminata are currently impacting the native diversity of endemic ants in Fiji.

New arthropod records from Kahoolawe (Bishop Museum Occasional Papers, 2004) 
New island records of a variety of arthropods collected on Kahoolawe are reported here.

Checklist of the ants of Fiji (Bishop Museum Occasional Papers, 2006). 
This checklist of the ants of Fiji includes 138 currently valid species and subspecies: 91 Fijian endemics, 22 wide-ranging Pacific natives, and 25 exotics.

Soil invertebrates of American Samoa 
Acari, Amphipoda, Formicidae, and Diptera were collected in this first study to identify and quantify soil invertebrates in American Samoa (Micronesica, 2000).

The abundance and diversity of ants in a suburban site (Queensland, Australia) 
Pheidole megacephala was found in 28 of the 32 test sites and was found to significantly reduce ant species richness and diversity.

In the news

Full-text articles

Community Structure of House-Infesting Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Southern Bahia, Brazil 
This article examines the community structure of house invading ants in Brazil.

Impacts of alien land arthropods and mollusks on native plants and animals in Hawaii 
The impacts of invasive invertebrates on Hawaii's ecosystems are reviewed (symposium proceedings, 1984).

Pacific Ant Prevention Plan 
This proposal was prepared by ISSG for the Pacific Plant Protection Organization and Regional Technical Meeting For Plant Protection in March 2004.

Exotic ants in NZ: A ticking timebomb? 
This article highlights a number of research projects that are currently being carried out on exotic ants by Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, collaborators and University students.

Long-term impact of exotic ants on the native ants of Madeira 
The earliest exotic records for big-headed ant (Pheidole megacephala) and the Argentine ant ( Linepithema humile ), are from the islands of Madeira, where the species underwent population explosions in the 1850s and 1890s respectively. Current surveys reevaluate assumptions regarding the extent of these invasions (Ecological Entomology, 2006).

Ants prey on stinkbug eggs in Hawaiian macadamia nut fields 
Predation on sentinel egg masses of stinkbug by the big-headed ant, Pheidole megacephala and the longlegged ant, Anoplolepis longipes affected population dynamics of the stinkbug in macadamia fields in Hawaii.

The ecology, policy, and management of ants in Hawaii (Proc. Hawaiian Entomol Soc., 2005)
The ecology and impacts of the roughly 45 ant species introduced to Hawaii, and their implications for agriculture, other sectors of the economy, and the conservation of native biodiversity, are reviewed (abstract with link to full article).

Current and potential ant impacts in the Pacific region (Proc. Hawaiian Entomological Society, 2005)
Is an "invasional meltdown" involving ants and scale insects a wave of the future for the Pacific? This article discusses the potential impacts of invasive insects on Pacific Islands.

A review of the association of ants with mealybug wilt disease of pineapple (Proc. Hawaiian Entomological Society, 2003)
The mutualism between ants and mealybugs on pineapple is reviewed.

The causes and consequences of ant invasions 
Invasive ants compete with and prey upon a diversity of other organisms, including some vertebrates, and may enter into or disrupt mutualistic interactions with numerous plants and other insects.

Ants of the Dry Tortugas, the outermost Florida keys
The two dominant ant species of the Tortugas, Pheidole megacephala and Solenopsis geminata, may pose a threat to native fauna, including sea turtle and sea bird nestlings.

Floral visitation patterns of two invasive ant species and their effects on other hymenopteran visitors   
The Argentine ant Linepithema humile, and the big-headed ant Pheidole megacephala, affected nectar volume and floral hymenopteran visitors on ohia flowers (Lori Lach, Ecological Entomology, 2008).

Arthropod pests of conservation significance in the Pacific: A preliminary assessment of selected groups 
Invasive ants are individually reviewed in this section of "Invasive species in the Pacific: A technical review and draft regional strategy" published in June 2000 by the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme.

Impact of an introduced ant on native rain forest invertebrates: Pheidole megacephala in monsoonal Australia 
The abundance and richness of native ants and other invertebrates were significantly reduced in litter samples, pitfall catches and foliage beats in an Australian rain forest where P. megacephala was present.

Determinants for the successful establishment of exotic ants in New Zealand 
The exotic New Zealand ant fauna is examined for characteristics that predict or determine an exotic species' ability to establish. A predictive model based on quarantine records, climate, and ant species size was 71% accurate.

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