Brachymyrmex heeri Forel, 1874

(ANTWEB: CASENT0173228). (Map 7)

Distributed in Central, South America and the Antilles (KEMPF, 1972; BOLTON et al., 2006). Brachymyrmex heeri is an introduced species that was collected for the first time in 2001 (HERRERA & LONGINO, 2008). Often found in the dry areas, it is distributed on five islands in disturbed and natural environments. Nests have been found in roots of C. roseus, sidewalks of streets, and under rocks and rotten trunks in Scalesia and Miconia areas. It has been reported visiting flowers of Gossypium darwinii G. Watt, C. roseus, potted plants and other ornamental plants in gardens. It has also been reported on crops such as coffee ( Coffea arabica L.), citrus and bananas. Other records are available from Piscidia carthagenensis Jacq. forests. Workers have been collected on Opuntia megasperma J. T. Howell, G. darwinii, Malus pumila (L.) Mill. and plants of Hibiscus rosa – sinensis L., Ricinus communis L., Spondias purpurea L., Mangifera indica L., Carica papaya L., C. lutea, M. octogona and Cocos nucifera L. Mutualistic interactions with scale insects like Coccus viridis (Green), the invasive cottony cushion scale Icerya purchasi (Maskell, 1878), and unidentified aphids (CAUSTON et al., 2006; VELASCO et al., 2010), could contribute to their spread. Brachymyrmex heeri is considered a minor threat to Galápagos ecosystems (HERRERA & LONGINO, 2008).