Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
success of odorous house ants in urban
habitats. Furthermore, such pre-adapted
super colonies have a high potential to
become invasive beyond their native range,
as evidenced by the fact that odorous house
ants have been recently discovered as a new
invasive species in Hawaii, the fi rst
confi rmed record for this species outside its
native North American range (Buczkowski
and Krushelnycky, 2012).
Another factor that promotes the status
of ants as urban pests is the introduction of
new invasive species and range expansion
by a number of already established invasive
pest species. In the USA, newly introduced
invasive ant species include rover ants
(
Brachymyrmex patagonicus
), which are
emerging as a pest in several Gulf states and
isolated pockets in New Mexico, Nevada
and possibly California; Asian needle ants
(
Pachycondyla chinensis
) invading south-
eastern states including Georgia and North
Carolina; and Caribbean crazy ants
(
Nylanderia pubens
) spreading throughout
Florida and Texas. Invasive species cur-
rently undergoing range expansion include
white-footed ants (
Technomyrmex albipes
),
which are continuing their northward
expansion in Florida, red imported fi re ants
(
Solenopsis invicta
), recently detected in
several isolated pockets in southern
California, Argentine ants (
Linepithema
humile
) expanding their range in the south-
eastern USA, and European fi re ants
(
Myrmica rubra
) continuing to spread in-
land from coastal areas in the north-east.
The combined effect of increasing
urbanization, adaptations to urbanization
by native ants and the emergence of new
invasive ants will shape the future of urban
ant management. Rapidly urbanizing and
developing countries, especially those in
Africa and Asia, will probably experience
the highest increases in the need for inte-
grated management of ant pests, particularly
in hotels, offi ce buildings, hospitals,
restaurants and food-processing facilities.
Ever-increasing global trade, commerce
and travel will continue the worldwide
spread of ants currently classifi ed as
invasive and the emergence of new
invasive species as other species become
established outside of their native ranges.
Novel issues not previously observed in
social insects, such as pesticide resistance,
may ultimately arise in some areas. These
issues will be addressed with the develop-
ment of novel products and strategies for
ant management.
Acknowledgements
This chapter was made possible by the
Industrial Affi liates Program at Purdue
University.
References
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