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1 October 2010 Inter- and Intraspecific Aggression in the Invasive Longlegged Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Kim-Fung Chong, Chow-Yang Lee
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Abstract

The longlegged ant, Anoplolepis gracilipes (Fr. Smith) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), is a highly invasive species that can aggressively displace other ant species. We conducted laboratory assays to examine interspecies aggression of A. gracilipes versus 15 sympatric ant species found in the urban environment and disturbed habitat in Malaysia: Monomorium pharaonis (L.), Monomorium floricola (Jerdon), Monomorium orientale Mayr, Monomorium destructor (Jerdon), Pheidole parva Mayr, Crematogaster sp., Solenopsis geminata (F.), Tapinoma indicum (Forel), Tapinoma melanocephalum (F.), Technomyrmex butteli Forel, Dolichoderus thoracicus (Smith), Paratrechina longicornis (Latrielle), Oecophylla smaragdina (F), Camponotus sp., and Tetraponera rufonigra (Jerdon). A. gracilipes showed aggressive behavior toward all opponent species, except the smallest M. orientale. Opponent species size (body size, head width, and mandible width) was significantly correlated with A. gracilipes aggression level and mortality rate. We also found a significant positive relationship between A. gracilipes aggression level and the mortality of the opponent species. The results suggest that invasive populations of A. gracilipes would have the greatest impact on larger ant species. In addition, we examined the intraspecific aggression of A. gracilipes. We found that A. gracilipes from different localities in Malaysia showed intraspecific aggression toward one another. This finding differs from the results of studies conducted in Christmas Island earlier. Differences in the genetic variability among populations may explain these differing results.

© 2010 Entomological Society of America
Kim-Fung Chong and Chow-Yang Lee "Inter- and Intraspecific Aggression in the Invasive Longlegged Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)," Journal of Economic Entomology 103(5), 1775-1783, (1 October 2010). https://doi.org/10.1603/EC09256
Received: 4 August 2009; Accepted: 1 July 2010; Published: 1 October 2010
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KEYWORDS
aggression
Anoplolepis gracilipes
interspecific
intraspecific
invasive species
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