One of the World’s Worst Invasive Alien Species Wasmannia auropunctata (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Detected in Cyprus

Authors

  • Jakovos Demetriou Joint Services Health Unit Cyprus & Enalia Physis Environmental Research Centre, Cyprus
  • Christos Georgiadis Section of Zoology and Marine Biology, Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2728-3122
  • Helen Roy UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6050-679X
  • Angeliki Martinou Joint Services Health Unit Cyprus; Enalia Physis Environmental Research Centre & Climate and Atmosphere Research Centre/ Care-C, The Cyprus Institute, Cyprus https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2892-8583
  • Lech Borowiec University of Wrocław, Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Taxonomy, Myrmecological Laboratory, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5668-6855
  • Sebastian Salata University of Wrocław, Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Taxonomy, Myrmecological Laboratory, Przybyszewskiego 65, 51-148 Wrocław, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0811-2309

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v69i4.8536

Keywords:

alien ants, biological invasions, first record, non-native species, island invasions, little fire ant, tramp species

Abstract

Native to the Neotropics, Wasmannia auropunctata (Roger, 1863) has been unintentionally introduced around the world, heavily impacting native ant biodiversity, societies, and economies as well as human and animal health due to its potentially dangerous stings. Herein we report on the first record of W. auropunctata in Cyprus. Specimens were collected from plant nurseries and tourist facilities in Paphos and Limassol district. Wasmannia auropunctata is believed to spread via the horticultural pathway to locations with sufficient humidity. Further research is necessary to determine the distribution and assess possible negative impacts of W. auropunctata to native biodiversity, society, the economy and human health in Cyprus.

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Published

2022-12-28

How to Cite

Demetriou, J., Georgiadis, C., Roy, H., Martinou, A., Borowiec, L., & Salata, S. (2022). One of the World’s Worst Invasive Alien Species Wasmannia auropunctata (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Detected in Cyprus. Sociobiology, 69(4), e8536. https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v69i4.8536

Issue

Vol. 69 No. 4 (2022)

Section

Research Article - Ants

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Copyright (c) 2022 Jakovos Demetriou, Christos Georgiadis, Helen Roy, Angeliki Martinou, Lech Borowiec, Sebastian Salata

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