New Zealand Journal of Zoology abstracts
The apparent establishment and subsequent eradication of the
Australian giant bulldog ant Myrmecia brevinoda Forel
(Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in New Zealand
Philip J. Lester
School of Biological Sciences
Victoria University of Wellington
P.O. Box 600
Wellington, New Zealand
phil.lester@vuw.ac.nz
John B. Keall
AgriQuality Limited
P.O. Box 41
Auckland 1015, New Zealand
Abstract The Australian giant bulldog ant Myrmecia
brevinoda Forel was first observed in New Zealand in 1940 (Keall
1981). Further observations of this species were made at a location in
Devonport in 1948 and 1965, and a nest destroyed at this site in 1981.
Since this time no further observations have been made, yet the status
of this species is commonly listed as “uncertain establishment” on New
Zealand faunal lists. We describe the control procedure used in 1981.
In addition, to determine its current status we resurveyed ants in the
area of earlier infestation using visual searches, pitfall trapping,
and a reward for discovery posted to local residents. No evidence of M.
brevinoda was found, though several other invasive species were
found, including the Argentine ant Linepithema humile (Mayr), Pheidole
rugosula Forel, and a recently established Australian cryptic Solenopsis
species. Given the results of our survey and the absence of other
reports of M. brevinoda over the last 24 years, we consider
this species to be extinct or eradicated from New Zealand.
Keywords eradication; exotic and invasive ants;
extinction; Myrmecia brevinoda; survey; Argentine ants Linepithema
humile; Solenopsis sp.
Z05022; Received 17 June 2005; accepted 30 August 2005; Online
publication date 28 September 2005
New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 2005, Vol. 32: 353–357
0301–4223/05/3204–0353 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2005
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