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Pheidole megacephala (fabricius 1793) (hymenoptera: Formicidae): A new invasive ant in the galápagos Islands

Abstract:

The first record and distribution of the bigheaded ant, Pheidole megacephala (Fabricius 1793) in the Galápagos Islands are reported. Major and minor workers have been collected in the towns of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (San Cristóbal Island), Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz Island), Puerto Villamil (Isabela Island) and in the highlands of San Cristóbal. Field surveys and a revision of the Formicidae collection in the Invertebrates collection at the Charles Darwin Research Station (ICCDRS), California Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS) suggest that this species reached the Galápagos Archipelago within the last seven years. The potential impact on native fauna of P. megacephala is discussed and appropriate measures to control and stop the spread of this species are mentioned. © 2013 Pacific Coast Entomological Society.