Seminar Series 2005

Wasmannia auropunctata, the little fire ant, a major invasive threat to Pacific islands: Current evidence and research in New Caledonia

HERVE JOURDAN
Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD)
Appl. Zool. Lab., UMR 022-CBGP, Noumea NEW CALEDONIA

For the past 10 years, Wasmannia auropunctata is spreading widely in the Western and Central Pacific (Vanuatu, Tuvalu, French Polynesia, Hawaii...). So that, it is now considered one of the major invasive ant concerns at the regional scale. In New Caledonia, where this small Myrmicine ant has been spreading for more than 40 years, we are conducting research on this biological model, both in the field and in lab, to better understand invasive processes on islands. I will present our results from experimental work, collected over the past years, from the first research dealing with biodiversity impacts to most recent dealing with invasive success causes. This research encompass behavioural ecology, chemical ecology, and more recently, population genetics and reproduction structure (including results from a comparitive approach between native and invaded areas). I will also discuss our research perspectives about invasive ants in New Caledonia and Pacific.