Tramp-species
Guides
Calliscelio
Calliscelio is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Scelionidae, comprising 97 described species worldwide. The genus was erected by Ashmead in 1893. Members are egg parasitoids of crickets (Gryllidae), with at least one species, C. elegans, recognized as a widespread "tramp species" likely dispersed by human commerce.
Cardiocondyla emeryi
Cardiocondyla emeryi is a small ant species in the subfamily Myrmicinae with a wide introduced distribution across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. The species is known from two recognized subspecies: the nominate C. e. emeryi and C. e. fezzanensis from Algeria. Its extensive range includes native populations in Africa and the Middle East, with numerous introduced populations in the Americas, Caribbean, Pacific islands, and parts of Europe and Asia. The species has been documented in over 40 countries and island groups, indicating significant human-mediated dispersal.
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 minutior
Cardiocondyla minutior is a small ant species in the subfamily Myrmicinae, described by Auguste Forel in 1899. It has a remarkably wide distribution spanning multiple continents, including the Americas, Asia, and Oceania, suggesting either human-mediated dispersal or exceptional ecological adaptability. The species belongs to a genus known for diverse male morphologies and reproductive strategies, though specific details for C. minutior remain limited.
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.
Chondromorpha xanthotricha
Chondromorpha xanthotricha is a millipede in the family Paradoxosomatidae. Native to South India and Sri Lanka, it has become a widespread introduced species across tropical and subtropical regions through human-mediated transport. Adults measure 20–26 mm and exhibit notably rapid movement compared to many millipedes. Two subspecies are recognized: C. x. hamuligerus and C. x. hirsutus.
Folsomia candida
Folsomia candida is a small, unpigmented, eyeless springtail species that has become one of the most widely used model organisms in soil ecotoxicology. Native to soil environments but now distributed globally through human-mediated dispersal, this parthenogenetic species reproduces without males and can be easily maintained in laboratory cultures on simple diets. It has been employed for over 40 years as a standard test organism for assessing pesticide and pollutant effects on non-target soil invertebrates, and has also served as a model for studying cold tolerance, circadian rhythms, decomposition processes, and soil fungal interactions.
Heteroonops spinimanus
Heteroonops spinimanus is a small spider in the family Oonopidae (dwarf goblin spiders), first described by Eugène Simon in 1892. The species has a notably broad distribution, having been recorded across the Americas and subsequently introduced to multiple regions worldwide including Europe, Africa, and the Pacific. Its wide geographic spread suggests human-mediated dispersal, though specific transport mechanisms remain undocumented. As a member of Oonopidae, it belongs to one of the most species-rich spider families, characterized by minute body size and simplified eye arrangements.
Hypoponera
Crypt Ants
Hypoponera is a genus of ponerine ants characterized by simplified morphology lacking clear autapomorphies. The genus exhibits cosmopolitan distribution across all continents except Antarctica, with notable absence from taiga, tundra, New Zealand, and central Asia. Multiple species display remarkable reproductive polymorphism, including winged and wingless (ergatoid) morphs in both sexes. Workers typically lack eyes or possess only very small eyes, while queens and males usually have well-developed eyes with interommatidial setae.
Hypoponera punctatissima
Roger's ant
Hypoponera punctatissima, commonly known as Roger's ant, is a small ponerine ant native to Africa that has become a globally distributed tramp species. The species is strongly associated with human-modified environments, particularly heated buildings, greenhouses, and animal waste. Colonies are small, typically containing approximately 200 workers, and are often polydomous. The species is frequently encountered through alate gynes that appear above ground.
Ochetellus glaber
black household ant, black house ant, tramp ant, Copper-bellied Ant
Ochetellus glaber is a small ant species native to Australia, widely introduced globally through human commerce. Workers measure 2–3 mm, with queens reaching 5.2–5.5 mm. The species is recognized as a species complex with cryptic diversity, complicating identification and management decisions. It nests arboreally and in structures, forming conspicuous trails to exploit honeydew and food resources. Considered a household pest, it has established populations in Hawaii, Florida, New Zealand, and multiple Asian and Pacific regions.
Rhinotus
Rhinotus is a genus of millipedes in the family Siphonotidae, order Polyzoniida, containing at least 20 described species. The genus includes notable cosmopolitan tramp species such as Rhinotus purpureus, which has been repeatedly described as new under multiple synonyms and is frequently associated with human-modified environments.
Rhinotus purpureus
purple millipede
A small, cosmopolitan millipede species in the family Siphonotidae, native to the Neotropics but widely introduced globally through human commerce. Frequently found in greenhouses and other synanthropic habitats, it has been repeatedly described as new due to its variable appearance, resulting in over a dozen synonyms. First recorded from the Indian subcontinent in 2020.
Stenocaecilius casarum
lizard barklouse
Stenocaecilius casarum is a species of lizard barklouse in the family Caeciliusidae. It has one of the widest geographic distributions of any barklouse species, occurring across six continents and numerous oceanic islands. The species was first described by Badonnel in 1931. Its common name refers to its lizard-like appearance and movement patterns.
Strumigenys membranifera
Bare Mustache Ant
Strumigenys membranifera is a minute trap-jaw ant species native to the Old World tropics that has become a globally distributed tramp species. It is one of only six known Strumigenys species exhibiting thelytokous parthenogenesis, where virgin queens produce diploid female offspring from unfertilized eggs without sperm involvement. Queens retain a functional spermatheca and complete reproductive system despite rarely mating, with males produced only exceptionally. The species has been recorded from numerous regions including Taiwan, Greece (Crete), the Galápagos Islands, and across Asia, reflecting its capacity for human-mediated dispersal and establishment in new environments without mating requirements.
Tapinoma
Tapinoma is a moderately diverse genus of ants in the subfamily Dolichoderinae, comprising approximately 87 described species (81 extant, 6 fossil) with a crown age estimated at 34–49 million years. Species occur worldwide in tropical and temperate regions, exhibiting generalized foraging behavior and flexible nesting habits. Several species, including T. sessile and T. melanocephalum, are notable as household pests and invasive species associated with human disturbance.
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.
Wasmannia
Wasmannia is a genus of small myrmicine ants in the tribe Attini, established by Forel in 1893. The genus contains approximately 10 described species distributed across the Neotropics, with the most notable being Wasmannia auropunctata, commonly known as the electric ant or little fire ant. This species has achieved global notoriety as one of the world's most destructive invasive ant species, having spread from its native range in Central and South America to tropical and subtropical regions worldwide including Florida, Hawaii, Australia, and numerous Pacific islands. The genus is characterized by small, monomorphic workers with a well-developed sting apparatus.
Wasmannia auropunctata
little fire ant, electric ant
Wasmannia auropunctata, commonly known as the little fire ant or electric ant, is a small invasive ant native to Central and South America. It has spread to tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, including Florida, Hawaii, the Caribbean, Africa, and the Pacific Islands. The species is known for its painful sting relative to its size and is listed among the world's most destructive invasive species. It exhibits facultative reproductive polymorphism, with some populations reproducing sexually and others clonally.