Invasive-ant
Guides
Cardiocondyla mauritanica
Moorish Sneaking Ant
Cardiocondyla mauritanica is a small myrmicine ant originally described from North Africa and the Middle East. It has become a widespread tramp species, now established in numerous regions worldwide through human-mediated dispersal. The species belongs to a genus noted for remarkable morphological and behavioral diversity, particularly among male ants.
Cardiocondyla obscurior
Arboreal Sneaking Ant
Cardiocondyla obscurior is a small myrmicine ant with Indomalayan origins that has achieved cosmopolitan distribution as a tramp species. It exhibits distinctive reproductive traits including male polyphenism with both winged and wingless male morphs, and a unique aging strategy termed 'continuusparity' where queens maintain continuous reproduction with a fitness peak late in life. The species is primarily arboreal, nesting in plant cavities of low vegetation, and has been introduced to numerous regions including the Americas, Europe, and Asia.
Odontomachus haematodus
two-spined trapjaw ant
Odontomachus haematodus is a large, aggressive species of trap-jaw ant native to South America that has established introduced populations across the southeastern United States, particularly along the Gulf Coast. The species is notable for its powerful, spring-loaded mandibles capable of rapid snapping movements used in prey capture and defense. Workers are active both diurnally and nocturnally, foraging in and around rotting wood and occasionally nesting within plants such as Aechmea aquilega. Research has documented this species as a predator of Thoropa taophora tadpoles and has identified unique queen pheromones involving dialkyltetrahydrofurans, compounds previously unknown in eusocial insects.
Tetramorium bicarinatum
ghost ant, bicarinatum-group fierce ant
Tetramorium bicarinatum is a widely distributed ant species native to Southeast Asia that has become established globally as a common tramp species. It is frequently found in human-modified environments including houses, greenhouses, and landscaped areas. The species forms mutualistic relationships with honeydew-producing insects such as mealybugs, particularly tending the cotton mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis on agricultural crops. Its venom contains pharmacologically active peptides, including the helix ring peptide Tb11a (bicarinalin), which has attracted research interest for potential biomedical applications.