Is the spread of Wasmannia auropunctata (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) through the western Palearctic inevitable? First evidence of presence in the Canary Islands

By

Perez-Delgado, Antonio Jose
Santos Perdomo, Irene
Jiménez-García, Eduardo
Lugo, David
Suárez, Daniel

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2025

Original Publication

Journal of Hymenoptera research

Volume

98

Pages

419--433

Subjects

Barcoding , early detection , invasive ant species , little fire ant , oceanic islands

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Washington, D.C International Society of Hymenopterists

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.98.144997

 

Abstract

Wasmannia auropunctata, also known as the ‘little fire ant’ or ‘electric ant’, is an invasive species that represents a serious threat to biodiversity and public health globally due to its intrinsic characteristics and low detectability. Here, through a combination of morphological and molecular identification, the first record of this species in the oceanic archipelago of the Canary Islands is presented. Molecular data reveal that the population from the Canary Islands is completely different from another population established in Málaga (mainland Spain), which suggests that the western Palearctic has been colonised from at least two independent events. The early detection of this species in a very limited area provides an important temporal window for its eradication and the prevention of its dispersal to other areas.