Urban Entomology Laboratory, Vector Control Research Unit, School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia.
J Econ Entomol. 2010 Oct;103(5):1775-83. doi: 10.1603/ec09256.
The longlegged ant, Anoplolepis gracilipes (Fr. Smith) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), is a highly invasive species that can aggressively displace other ant species. We conducted laboratory assays to examine interspecies aggression of A. gracilipes versus 15 sympatric ant species found in the urban environment and disturbed habitat in Malaysia: Monomorium pharaonis (L.), Monomorium floricola (Jerdon), Monomorium orientale Mayr, Monomorium destructor (Jerdon), Pheidole parva Mayr, Crematogaster sp., Solenopsis geminata (F.), Tapinoma indicum (Forel), Tapinoma melanocephalum (F.), Technomyrmnex butteli Forel, Dolichoderus thoracicus (Smith), Paratrechina longicornis (Latrielle), Oecophylla smaragdina (F), Camponotus sp., and Tetraponera rufonigra (Jerdon). A. gracilipes showed aggressive behavior toward all opponent species, except the smallest M. orientale. Opponent species size (body size, head width, and mandible width) was significantly correlated with A. gracilipes aggression level and mortality rate. We also found a significant positive relationship between A. gracilipes aggression level and the mortality of the opponent species. The results suggest that invasive populations of A. gracilipes would have the greatest impact on larger ant species. In addition, we examined the intraspecific aggression of A. gracilipes. We found that A. gracilipes from different localities in Malaysia showed intraspecific aggression toward one another. This finding differs from the results of studies conducted in Christmas Island earlier. Differences in the genetic variability among populations may explain these differing results.
长腿蚁，Anoplolepis gracilipes (Fr. Smith)（膜翅目：蚁科），是一种高度入侵的物种，能够积极地取代其他蚂蚁物种。我们进行了实验室试验，以检验 A. gracilipes 对 15 种在马来西亚城市环境和干扰栖息地中发现的共生蚁种的种间侵略性：Monomorium pharaonis (L.)、Monomorium floricola (Jerdon)、Monomorium orientale Mayr、Monomorium destructor (Jerdon)、Pheidole parva Mayr、Crematogaster sp.、Solenopsis geminata (F.)、Tapinoma indicum (Forel)、Tapinoma melanocephalum (F.)、Technomyrmnex butteli Forel、Dolichoderus thoracicus (Smith)、Paratrechina longicornis (Latrielle)、Oecophylla smaragdina (F)、Camponotus sp. 和 Tetraponera rufonigra (Jerdon)。A. gracilipes 对所有对手物种都表现出侵略性行为，除了最小的 M. orientale。对手物种的大小（身体大小、头宽和颚宽）与 A. gracilipes 的侵略水平和死亡率显著相关。我们还发现 A. gracilipes 的侵略水平与对手物种的死亡率之间存在显著的正相关关系。结果表明，入侵种群的 A. gracilipes 对较大的蚂蚁物种的影响最大。此外，我们还研究了 A. gracilipes 的种内侵略性。我们发现，来自马来西亚不同地区的 A. gracilipes 彼此之间表现出种内侵略性。这一发现与早些时候在圣诞岛进行的研究结果不同。种群之间遗传变异性的差异可能解释了这些不同的结果。
