Ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of St. Vincent, West Indies

Abstract

The ants of Saint Vincent have long been one of the most thoroughly documented ant faunas of any Caribbean island. Ant specimens collected more than 100 years ago on St. Vincent include 76 valid taxa. In ten days surveying ants on Saint Vincent, I found eleven species not found by previous researchers. Eight are widespread Neotropical species (Anochetus inermis, Camponotus claviscapus, Cyphomyrmex minutus, Odontomachus ruginodis, Pheidole exigua, Pheidole moerens, Rogeria curvipubens, Solenopsis corticalis) and three are Old World exotics (Cardiocondyla minutior, Syllophopsis sechellensis, Trichomyrmex destructor). Ant records from St. Vincent include more Neotropical species (72) and fewer Old World exotic species (15) than the neighboring Caribbean islands of similar size: Barbados and Grenada. Factors that may contribute to this pattern are that, compared to Barbados and Grenada, Saint Vincent has more mountainous terrain, more intact forest, lower human population density, and fewer international tourist visits.

Keywords

• ants
• biogeography
• exotic species
• island biogeography
• West Indies