Paratrechina longicornis (Latreille, 1802)

Collingwood, C. A., Pohl, F., Güsten, R., Wranik, W., van Harten, A., 2004, The ants (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Socotra Archipelago, Fauna of Arabia 20, pp. 473-495 : 486-488

Paratrechina longicornis (Latreille, 1802)

Formica longicornis Latreille, 1802 . - Histoire Naturelle des Fourmis: 113. (Senegal).

Paratrechina longicornis . - COLLINGWOOD & VAN Harten 1994: 39.

Fig. 14

Specimens examined: Yemen, Socotra Island: spms from Hadibo , 13-14.IV.1993, A. van Harten, CCC ; spms from Farmihin , 24.IX.1998, W. Wranik, CWWR ; spms from Dimere , 25.IX.1998, W. Wranik, CWWR ; spms from Hasaant , X.1998, W. Wranik, CWWR ; spms from Diksam , X.1998, W. Wranik, CWWR ; ~ 40 ☿☿, Adho Dimello, base camp , 12°34'N 54°02'E, 940 m, 03.II.1999, H. Pohl, HLMD-Hym-2092 , NHCY ; spms from Hadibo, 15.II.2000, W. Wranik, CWWR ; spms from Nojid, Dijoub Cave , 16.II.2000, W. Wranik, CWWR ; 2 ☿☿, Wadi Daneghan , 12°37'N 54°04'E, 90 m, pitfall traps, 28-30.X.2000, A. van Harten & H. Pohl, HLMD-Hym-2093 , NHCY . - Yemen, Samha Island: spms from coastal area , 15.II.1999, W. Wranik, CWWR . - Yemen, Abd al-Kuri Island: spms from coastal plain , 18.11.1999, W. Wranik, CWWR .

Remarks: This is probably the most widely distributed pantropical tramp species, often becoming abundant in highly disturbed habitats. Its native distribution is uncertain but may in fact be the Afrotropical Region. The workers are narrow-bodied ants with very fast, erratic movements ("crazy ant"). They are generally non-aggressive and opportunistic. For building up large population densities they appear to require a resource of Coccoidea which they tend for harvesting their sugary excretions (WETTERER et al. 1999).