Distribution of ant species of Hawaii

Author:

Huddleston, Ellis W., Fluker, Sam S.

Title:

Distribution of ant species of Hawaii

Periodical:

Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society

Year:

1968

Volume:

20

Pages:

45-69

Subject:

Ants Ants ecology

Summary:

Specialized studies of the ants of Hawaii span the majority of the past century and the ant fauna of the Hawaiian Islands offers many unique opportunities for study due to the isolated character of the islands that offer six accessible land masses that vary in size and topography. In addition, two important factors regarding ant ecology -- vegetation and rainfall have also been carefully studied and mapped. These data, together with topographical maps, make the Hawaiian Islands an ecologist's dream in which to do this research. In 1934, two highly significant papers were published that greatly increased the knowledge concerning 42 species of Hawaiian ants such as the: Syscia silvestrii, Amblyopone zwaluwenburgi, Hypoponera punctatissima, Hypoponera opaciceps, Hypoponera zwaluwenburgi, Hypoponera sinensis, Ponera swezeya, Leptogenys falcigera, Pheidole (P.) fervens, Pheidole (P.) megacephala, Solenopsis geminata, Solenopsis "a", Solenopsis "b", Monomorium floricola, Monomorium fossulatm, Monomorium latinode, Monomorium minutum, Monomorium pharaonis, Monomorium destructor, Cardiocondyla emerya, Cardiocondyla nuda, Cardiocondyla wroughtoni, Cardiocondyla "a", Tetramorium guineense, Tetramorium simillimum, Tetramorium tonganum, Strumigenys godeffroyi, Strumigenys Iewisi, Strumigenys rogeri, Trichoscapa membranifera, Quadristruma emmae, Iridomyrmex humilis, Tapinoma melanochephalum, Technomyrmex albipes, Plagiolepis exiqua, Plagiolepis alluaudi, Brachymyrmex obscurior, Camponotus variegatus, Anoplolepis longipes, Paratrechina (P.) longicornis, Paratrechina bourbonica, and the Paratrechina (Nylanderia) vaga as described in this document. However, due to extensive collecting in many areas bordering the Pacific, the concepts of the origin of the Hawaiian ant fauna have undergone a drastic revision since the papers that were written in 1934. As a result, this study was done in an effort to update the knowledge of these species of ants that are found in Hawaii and to determine the extent of their distribution that exist on the six accessible islands and to determine the factors that are affecting the species distribution on each island. However, it should be noted that this is not a complete study and that further research is needed.

Label:

Insects - Ants

URL:

http://hdl.handle.net/10125/10949

Date:

1968

Collection:

Periodicals