Whats new!

WANTED - Paper Wasps (2011-2013)

We are updating the distribution of the Asian Paper Wasp (Polistes chinensis) and the Australian Paper Wasp (Polistes humilis) in New Zealand.

I would be grateful for information on the:

1. locality from around NZ (such as city/town, suburb, street, date, where found) and
2. what species is it (Asian or Australian) – so if you are unsure, a photo is best, even a low resolution image is ok, as the species have very different colours/markings on their body.

There is no need to send in wasps, unless you are unsure of the species and can’t take a photo. If required, wasps can be sent to the address below, in a sealed plastic container. Please be careful if catching wasps/nests, they have a painful sting. Wasps are best caught at night when they are less active.

We are particularly interested in sightings from the lower North Island and the South Island. Paper wasps are most active over the summer period but begin making nests in spring.

Please send info, photos or wasps to: Darren Ward, Landcare Research, Private Bag 92170, Auckland

DNA Barcoding (July 2011)

DNA barcoding is a technique for characterizing species using a short DNA sequence, for example, the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 mitochondrial region (or CO1). In collaboration with the Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD), we have CO1 sequences for 75% of the ants and social wasps in New Zealand. These sequences will soon be publically available.

We are still looking for these species for DNA. Can you help?: Rhytidoponera metallica; Plagiolepis alluaudi; Prolasius advenus; Huberia brounii; Huberia striata; Monomorium antipodum; Monomorium pharaonis; Monomorium smithii; Monomorium sydneyense; Hypoponera eduardi; Hypoponera punctatissima.

Argentine Ant Online ‘Toolkit’ (July 2011)

A new website to provide information, and help fight Argentine ants in New Zealand has been launched [http://argentineants.landcareresearch.co.nz/index.asp]

The site contains information on their biology and impacts; recommendations for surveillance and monitoring; provides information on a range of control products; and contains a range of resources for download etc.

The aims of this website are to i) provide authoritative information on Argentine ants in New Zealand, and ii) enhance communication between regional and national biosecurity authorities, scientists, and the public.

We are looking for feedback on this site.

The site was made in conjunction with Richard Toft (Entecol) and with funding from an Envirolink grant. We also acknowledge the ongoing support of Regional Councils.

Can Argentine ants be stopped globally?

Researchers from around the world have combined to examine how different factors explain the spread of the Argentine ant.

Factors of climatic suitability and the extent of human modification were most responsible for its distribution. Somewhat surprisingly, international trade was not related to global distribution patterns, so even regions with low volumes of trade were still at risk of invasion. This is contrary to scientific dogma.

The results of this study have been published in the prestigious Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences USA. Roura-Pascual et al. 2011. Relative roles of climatic suitability and anthropogenic influence in determining the pattern of spread in a global invader. PNAS 108 1220–225.

Updates to ant distribution data

The national distribution records for ants have been updated, with several hundred new records added, and changes made to some taxonomic names and to the fields that are displayed. More information is held within the database than can be shown, so contact us if you are wanting more information about specific records. Some changes have also been made to the species factsheets, including a wider array of images.

New Zealand ants go global

Information on New Zealand ants has now been incorporated into ANTWEB, a global initiative led by Brian Fisher at the Californian Academy of Sciences and other ant experts from around the world. ANTWEB aims to develop tools to accelerate the discovery and documentation of ant diversity, and ensure ant information is widely accessible. ANTWEB currently contains information for 174 541 specimens and has 4066 species with images.

New publications assess the risk of invasive ants to New Zealand

The invasive invertebrates team has had a productive few years, producing publications on a range of subjects, though mostly dealing with the risk of invasive ants, developing strategies to minimise their entry into New Zealand, and determining distribution and impacts if they establish.

Citations for these publications can be viewed here.

We have also produced a bibliography of the New Zealand ant literature, which lists almost 200 publications associated with native and introduced ants in New Zealand.

Our team are also involved with a number of articles, which either have been submitted for publication (effects of Argentine ants on decomposition; invasive interactions: Argentine ants and their role in spreading weeds) or are in preparation (review of Argentine ants in New Zealand after twenty years; the roles of human and environmental mediators for global invaders; optimal surveillance for Argentine ants using baits). Look out for them soon!

Ants of New Zealand by Warwick Don

With a foreword by Edward O. Wilson, arguably the world's foremost social insect biologist, this book covers all established species with respect to origin, distribution, diagnostic features of the worker, biology and pest status (if any). Several species of doubtful establishment and some recent arrivals also receive some coverage. There is a pictorial key to worker ants and a glossary of terms. Aspects of insect and ant evolution, classification, social life, the New Zealand ant fauna and external anatomy of diagnostic importance are discussed, and there is a chapter on collecting, preserving and studying ants. The book concludes with a comprehensive list of references and index and is aimed at all levels of interest, from students and the general public through to professional entomologists and ecologists. 

Available from Manaaki Whenua Press

Time will tell: the invasion of ants into New Zealand

At least 28 ant species have been unintentionally introduced (through trade) into New Zealand over the past 150 years. It would be useful to know what factors determine the suitability of an area for these invading ant species? Typically this is a combination of abiotic (environmental, habitat) and biotic factors (foraging strategy, competition, predation), but how do these factors interact? I have been examining these factors for six exotic species. Several different modelling programs consistently show that these ant species should be restricted to warmer parts of New Zealand. However, there are still many areas of New Zealand that are not yet invaded. Are these real biological limitations? Time will tell!

Is the springbok praying mantis displacing New Zealand’s only native praying mantis?

During the summer of 2004/05, Auckland University summer student Jenni Drummond joined us to investigate the spread of the South African springbok praying mantis in New Zealand. The South African mantis, Miomantis caffra, was first recorded in New Zealand in 1978 in the Auckland suburb of New Lynn. Jenni sought out new locality records to determine the spread of the springbok mantis since it was last mapped in 1990. The mantis appears to be in the early stages of range expansion and is not yet occupying its full distribution potential in New Zealand. Jenni used BIOSECURE’s climate model to map the potential distribution of the mantis based on climate similarities with South Africa.

Download poster: The spread and potential distribution of the South African praying mantis, Miomantis caffra, in New Zealand. ( 899kbs)