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Nylanderia
Nylanderia is a large genus of ants in the subfamily Formicinae. The genus has a nearly cosmopolitan distribution with species inhabiting a wide array of habitats in almost all geographic regions. Nylanderia, currently containing over 110 species, is an ecologically important genus, with some species reported as being invasive. The ants are small to medium in size and range in color from pale yellow to black.
The genus was first described as a subgenus of Prenolepis by Emery (1906), a status he revised a couple of years later when he placed it as subgenus of Paratrechina (Emery, 1925). Wheeler (1936) raised Nylanderia to genus, where it remained until Brown (1973) provisionally placed it as a junior synonym of Paratrechina, a status which was later confirmed by Trager (1984). Nylanderia was finally revived from synonymy and restored at the rank of genus by LaPolla, Brady & Shattuck (2010).
Until 2010, most Nylanderia species were placed in the genus Paratrechina, but molecular phylogenic studies and reassessment of morphological characters prompted resurrection of Nylanderia as a valid genus. The genus currently comprises over 108 extant species and two fossil species: N. pygmaea from Eocene age Baltic amber and N. vetula from Miocene age Dominican amber.
After examining the phylogenetic relationships of Nylanderia and related genera, LaPolla, Brady & Shattuck (2011) placed Nylanderia within a well-defined Prenolepis-genus group containing Euprenolepis, Nylanderia, Paratrechina (sensu stricto), Paraparatrechina, Prenolepis, and Pseudolasius. They found that Paratrechina (sensu lato) was polyphyletic and segregated into three distinct, robust clades: Paratrechina (sensu stricto), Paraparatrechina, and Nylanderia. The sister taxon to Nylanderia was found to be a clade containing three genera: (Pseudolasius + (Euprenolepis + Paratrechina)).
Cladogram of the Prenolepis genus-group based on LaPolla, Brady & Shattuck (2010) and LaPolla, Kallal & Brady (2012):
Nylanderia is a large, ecologically important ant genus with a nearly cosmopolitan distribution. The ants are found in all geographic regions (with the exception of high-latitude areas), but is notably absent from Europe. Species inhabit a wide array of habitats from deserts to rainforests, although they reach their highest species diversity in forested and warmer environments. Nylanderia species are among the most abundant ant species in many places where they occur. For example, Ward (2000) found that Nylanderia (recorded as Paratrechina) was the fifth-most frequently encountered ant genus in leaf-litter samples from around the world.
Several Nylanderia species have been reported as being tramps. For example, N. bourbonica and N. vaga are commonly encountered in the tropics and subtropics and have spread across large areas. Infestations can involve smaller areas, although population sizes can be very large, as with N. pubens (Caribbean crazy ant) in the Caribbean. A Nylanderia species has invaded Texas and several other states in Southeastern United States in a sudden, explosive outbreak. Several other species in the genus have also been reported as introduced outside their native range, including N. clandestina, N. flavipes, N. fulva (Rasberry crazy), N. guatemalensis, and N. vividula.
They are efficient and rapid foragers and often find resources (e.g. baits) first to which they can recruit rapidly, but rarely can defend a resource against other ants that arrive later to baits. Most are conspicuous, epigaeic (living or foraging primarily above ground) generalist species that form large, polydomous nests. Frequent nest movements are known for some species, especially those that nest in leaf litter and rotting wood. For example, N. bourbonica can nest opportunistically in temporary sites that are habitable for only a few days or weeks. The small (125–150 individuals) colonies of N. faisonensis also inhabit ephemeral locations in the leaf litter or soil of hardwood forests. A few more morphologically specialized species exist, such as the sand-dwelling N. arenivaga and N. phantasma from the southeastern United States, several small-eyed species such as N. microps from Puerto Rico, and several undescribed species from Australia. At least three currently undescribed workerless social parasites are known from the eastern United States.
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Nylanderia
Nylanderia is a large genus of ants in the subfamily Formicinae. The genus has a nearly cosmopolitan distribution with species inhabiting a wide array of habitats in almost all geographic regions. Nylanderia, currently containing over 110 species, is an ecologically important genus, with some species reported as being invasive. The ants are small to medium in size and range in color from pale yellow to black.
The genus was first described as a subgenus of Prenolepis by Emery (1906), a status he revised a couple of years later when he placed it as subgenus of Paratrechina (Emery, 1925). Wheeler (1936) raised Nylanderia to genus, where it remained until Brown (1973) provisionally placed it as a junior synonym of Paratrechina, a status which was later confirmed by Trager (1984). Nylanderia was finally revived from synonymy and restored at the rank of genus by LaPolla, Brady & Shattuck (2010).
Until 2010, most Nylanderia species were placed in the genus Paratrechina, but molecular phylogenic studies and reassessment of morphological characters prompted resurrection of Nylanderia as a valid genus. The genus currently comprises over 108 extant species and two fossil species: N. pygmaea from Eocene age Baltic amber and N. vetula from Miocene age Dominican amber.
After examining the phylogenetic relationships of Nylanderia and related genera, LaPolla, Brady & Shattuck (2011) placed Nylanderia within a well-defined Prenolepis-genus group containing Euprenolepis, Nylanderia, Paratrechina (sensu stricto), Paraparatrechina, Prenolepis, and Pseudolasius. They found that Paratrechina (sensu lato) was polyphyletic and segregated into three distinct, robust clades: Paratrechina (sensu stricto), Paraparatrechina, and Nylanderia. The sister taxon to Nylanderia was found to be a clade containing three genera: (Pseudolasius + (Euprenolepis + Paratrechina)).
Cladogram of the Prenolepis genus-group based on LaPolla, Brady & Shattuck (2010) and LaPolla, Kallal & Brady (2012):
Nylanderia is a large, ecologically important ant genus with a nearly cosmopolitan distribution. The ants are found in all geographic regions (with the exception of high-latitude areas), but is notably absent from Europe. Species inhabit a wide array of habitats from deserts to rainforests, although they reach their highest species diversity in forested and warmer environments. Nylanderia species are among the most abundant ant species in many places where they occur. For example, Ward (2000) found that Nylanderia (recorded as Paratrechina) was the fifth-most frequently encountered ant genus in leaf-litter samples from around the world.
Several Nylanderia species have been reported as being tramps. For example, N. bourbonica and N. vaga are commonly encountered in the tropics and subtropics and have spread across large areas. Infestations can involve smaller areas, although population sizes can be very large, as with N. pubens (Caribbean crazy ant) in the Caribbean. A Nylanderia species has invaded Texas and several other states in Southeastern United States in a sudden, explosive outbreak. Several other species in the genus have also been reported as introduced outside their native range, including N. clandestina, N. flavipes, N. fulva (Rasberry crazy), N. guatemalensis, and N. vividula.
They are efficient and rapid foragers and often find resources (e.g. baits) first to which they can recruit rapidly, but rarely can defend a resource against other ants that arrive later to baits. Most are conspicuous, epigaeic (living or foraging primarily above ground) generalist species that form large, polydomous nests. Frequent nest movements are known for some species, especially those that nest in leaf litter and rotting wood. For example, N. bourbonica can nest opportunistically in temporary sites that are habitable for only a few days or weeks. The small (125–150 individuals) colonies of N. faisonensis also inhabit ephemeral locations in the leaf litter or soil of hardwood forests. A few more morphologically specialized species exist, such as the sand-dwelling N. arenivaga and N. phantasma from the southeastern United States, several small-eyed species such as N. microps from Puerto Rico, and several undescribed species from Australia. At least three currently undescribed workerless social parasites are known from the eastern United States.