Tetramorium simillimum (Smith, 1851)

Herrera Léon Baert Wouter Dekoninck, Henri W., Causton, Charlotte E., Sevilla, Christian R., Pozo, Paola & Hendrickx, Frederik, 2020, Distribution and habitat preferences of Galápagos ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Belgian Journal of Entomology 93, pp. 1-60 : 40

Tetramorium simillimum (Smith, 1851)

Similar Groove–Headed Ant ( DEYRUP et al., 2000)

(ANTWEB: CASENT0173291). ( Map 39 )

A widespread species in the tropics ( KEMPF, 1972; BOLTON, 1979; BRANDÃO, 1991; BOLTON e t al., 2006). This introduced ant was first collected around 1900 from Floreana Island (WHEELER, 1919). Now it is recorded from 13 other islands. Nests can be found under rocks, soil and rotten wood. Workers were observed foraging on sandy beaches in plants of C. pyriformis , in leaf litter in dry and humid areas in secondary growth forest, and natural areas such as the Scalesia forest in the highlands of Santa Cruz. Tetramorium simillimum is a common species in cultivated areas of Santa Cruz, Floreana and San Cristóbal being reported in crops of C. annuum and M. esculenta . In urban areas it was observed foraging between grass, under trees of M. octogona , in branches of Citrus x aurantiifolia (Christm.) Swingle, M. acuminata , C. nucifera , A. cherimola , S. purpurea , C. lutea and H. rosa – sinensis . It is frequently collected in landfill and waste treatment areas, ports and airports. It has a minor ecological impact in places where it has been introduced (WETTERER & HITA–GARCIA, 2015). It is rated to have low invasive potential in Galápagos ( CAUSTON et al., 2006).

Figures

Map 39. Distribution of Tetramorium simillimum (Smith, 1851).