Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds - Mini Fact Sheet EditionWhite-footed ant (360)
Relates to: Ants
Summary
- Worldwide distribution. Three similar white-footed species, needing specialist identification. Common in Pacific island countries.
- Tent-like nest of debris on ground, in trees, in houses. Do not bite humans.
- Males, winged and wingless; three kinds females (queens, workers, intercastes). Queens establish colony, reproductive intercastes later take over. Eats living/dead insects, and honeydew.
- Damage to plants indirect: protect natural enemies from attacking aphids, mealybugs, scales, whiteflies.
- Tramp ant; spread by 'budding' - intercastes leave nest with workers, males and brood; spread with international trade.
- Biosecurity: requires risk assessments, regulations preventing introduction, protocols in case of breaches, and ability to make rapid response. Pacific Ant Prevention Plan available (IUCN/SSC Invasive Specialist Group).
- Cultural control: hot water at 47°C kills ants; over 49°C kills plants.
- Chemical control: use i) stomach poisons (fibronil, Amdro borax), ii) growth regulators (methoprene, pyriproxyfen), iii) nerve poisons (bifenthrin, fipronil, imidacloprid). See (http://piat.org.nz/getting-rid-of-ants).
Common Name
White-footed ant; white-footed house ant.
Scientific Name
Technomyrmex albipes. Identification of the ant requires expert examination as there are several other species that are similar. Many specimens previously identified as Technomyrmex albipes have subsequently been reidentified as Technomyrmex difficilis (difficult white-footed ant) or as Technomyrmex vitiensis (Fijian white-footed ant), which also occurs worldwide.
AUTHOR Grahame Jackson
Information from Technomyrmex albipes. Wikipedia. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technomyrmex_albipes); and Technomyrmex difficilis (=albipes) Entomology & Nematology. UF/IFAS, University of Florida (http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/urban/ants/white-footed_ant.htm); and Pacific Invasive Ant Toolkit. (http://www.piat.org.nz/problem-ants/common-invasive-ants/white-footed-ants); and Technomyrmex albipes. AntWiki. (http://www.antwiki.org/wiki/Technomyrmex_albipes); and from Technomyrmex albipes (2018) Global Invasive Species Database. (http://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/speciesname/Technomyrmex+albipes). Photos 1&2 Randolf Thaman, University of the South Pacific, Fiji. Photos 3-5 April Nobile from Antweb. (https://www.antweb.org/bigPicture.do?name=casent0178469&number=1&shot=p).
Produced with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research under project HORT/2016/185: Responding to emerging pest and disease threats to horticulture in the Pacific islands, implemented by the University of Queensland and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.
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