Distribution
The Argentine ant (Linepithema humile (Mayr)) (Family Formicidae, Subfamily Dolichoderinae) is a highly invasive South American species that has spread to many countries (Suarez et al. 2001).
New Zealand Distribution
L. humile was first recorded in Auckland in 1990 (Green 1990), and was already establishing across several hectares. There was no attempt to eradicate the species at that time, as it was already well established (Green 1990). Over the following 6 years there were few L. humile collected and no formal reports of its spread. In summer 1997/98, two discrete populations of L. humile in Mt Maunganui were surveyed (Osborne 1998). Subsequent publicity, and increased searching for the species, has produced many more records. Currently, L. humile is known from numerous sites in northern North Island and two cities in the South Island.
 |
|
| Impacts | |