Hypoponera eduardi (Forel 1894)

Verheyde, Fons, Jacobs, JEffrEY, Dekoninck, WOUTEr, Achterberg, Kees Van, Rond, JErOEn, Blanck, Tim De, Schoonvaere, KarEL, Nieuwenhuijsen, Hans, Ketelaere, Augustijn De, Minnebo, BarT & Ferrer-Suay, Mar, 2023, Remarks on Hymenoptera on urban green roofs in Belgium, Belgian Journal of Entomology 140, pp. 1-37 : 12

Hypoponera eduardi (Forel 1894)

BELGIUM: • 1 ♀ (worker); N51.197° E4.462°; vi/2020; J. Jacobs leg.; coll. RBINS; pitfall trap; W. Dekoninck det.

Remarks:

This ant species was only recently added to the Belgian fauna after being discovered on 2 green roofs both near Antwerp of which one finding is reported here and the other one in VAN DYCK et al., (2023). As on both green roofs workers were found it seems the species has settled on the roofs (in VAN DYCK et al., 2023, 3 workers were found). In nearby countries this holomediterranean ant species, is known from greenhouses and botanical gardens ( BOER & VIERBERGEN, 2008; SEIFERT, 2018; NOORDIJK, 2021). SEIFERT (2018) suggests related to climate change, it is possible that this species can also establish itself outdoors in our region. The warm and dry conditions that arise on extensive green roofs probably offer a suitable habitat for this species to settle outdoors.