Solenopsis-invicta-coexistence

Guides

• Pheidole obscurithorax

  Large Imported Big-headed Ant

  Pheidole obscurithorax is a large, dark, dimorphic ant native to northern Argentina and Paraguay. It was introduced to Mobile, Alabama in the early 1950s and has since spread along an 80-km-wide coastal band between Alabama and Tallahassee, Florida. The species is characterized by worker dimorphism with enlarged-headed majors and has demonstrated rapid population growth in invaded areas, with nest density increasing 6.4-fold over two years in Tallahassee. It coexists with the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) and appears to have minimal negative impact on native ant communities, being part of a largely exotic ant assemblage adapted to disturbed habitats.

  invasive-speciestramp-antworker-dimorphismurban-ecologywaste-removalsoutheastern-United-StatesArgentinaParaguayintroduced-rangecoastal-distributionSolenopsis-invicta-coexistenceecosystem-servicesfood-waste-management