Ants of Louisiana (species list)
Joe MacGown
The following list includes 137 species. Twenty-six species are considered to be introduced. Species on the following list are from literature records, from AntWeb (Louisiana Ants), and from collections made by the MEM. The most recent study of Louisiana ants was done by Shawn Dash (2005), who did a masters thesis on the subject. His work built on an earlier study done by Moser and Blum (1960).
Clicking on a species name will lead to a page with further information and photographs of that species. Although species pages are at various levels of progress, most pages now have representative photographs of at least workers of the species. In addition to the photographs of ants taken by Joe MacGown at the Mississippi Entomological Museum (MEM), many photos are used, with permission, from AntWeb, a web site about ants of the world with amazing photos. Another site with photographs of ants is "Discover Life." The Discover Life site provides a list of North American ants with photos at "Kinds of Ants, Ants of North America Page". On each individual MEM species page, a link is provided (at the bottom of the page) for that species on both the AntWeb site and the Discover Life ant site.
The list presented is arranged by subfamily, tribe, and genus according to Bolton (2003). Names follow Bolton (1995), except Dorymyrmex, which follows Snelling (1995); Pyramica, which follows Bolton (2000); Aphaenogaster, which follows Umphrey (1996); Pheidole, which follows Wilson (2003); and Crematogaster, which follows Johnson (1988) and Deyrup (2003). For species that are introduced or considered to be pest species, that designation is given following the species name. For species whose origin is uncertain, the word "introduced" is followed by the "?" symbol. Similarly, for questionable pest species, the word "pest" is followed by the "?" symbol. Pest species include species that are considered to be serious pests, in that they may cause significant damage or health problems, to mild, nuisance pests. Species that are in the Mississippi Entomological Museum (MEM), literature records, web based records, and/or other citations of records are noted in brackets following the species name (note that not all published records are given).
Family Formicidae
Subfamily Dolichoderinae
Tribe Dolichoderini
Dolichoderus mariae Forel [Dash, 2005]
Dolichoderus taschenbergi (Mayr) [Dash, 2005]
Dorymyrmex bureni (Trager) [Dash, 2005]
Dorymyrmex flavus McCook [Dash, 2005]
Dorymyrmex grandulus (Forel) [Dash, 2005]
Dorymyrmex smithi Cole [Dash, 2005]
Forelius mccooki (McCook) [MEM]
Forelius pruinosus (Roger) [Dash, 2005]
Linepithema humile (Mayr) (introduced, pest) [Dash, 2005]
Tapinoma melanocephalum (Fabricius) (introduced, pest) [Dash, 2005]
Tapinoma sessile (Say) (pest) [Dash, 2005]
Technomyrmex difficilis Forel (introduced, pest-previously misidentified as T. albipes (Smith), see Wetterer, 2008)
Subfamily Formicinae
Tribe Lasiini
Lasius alienus (Foerster) [Dash, 2005]
Tribe Plagiolepidini
Brachymyrmex depilis Emery [Dash, 2005]
Brachymyrmex patagonicus Mayr (introduced, pest) [MEM; MacGown et al., 2007]
Paratrechina arenivaga (Wheeler) [Dash, 2005]
Paratrechina faisonensis (Forel) [MEM; Dash, 2005]
Paratrechina longicornis (Latreille) (introduced, pest) [MEM; Dash, 2005]
Paratrechina parvula (Mayr) [Dash, 2005]
Paratrechina terricola (Buckley) (pest) [Trager, 1984]
Paratrechina vividula (Nylander) (introduced?, pest) [MEM; Dash, 2005]
Prenolepis imparis (Say) (pest?) [Dash, 2005]
Tribe Camponotini
Camponotus americanus Mayr (pest) [MEM; Dash, 2005]
Camponotus caryae (Fitch) (pest) [Dash, 2005]
Camponotus castaneus (Latreille) (pest) [MEM; Dash, 2005]
Camponotus chromaiodes Bolton (pest) [Dash, 2005]
Camponotus decipiens Emery (pest) [listed as C. sayi in Dash, 2005]
Camponotus floridanus (Buckley) (pest) [listed as C. atriceps in Dash, 2005]
Camponotus impressus (Roger) [MEM; Dash, 2005]
Camponotus mississippiensis Smith [Dash, 2005]
Camponotus nearcticus Emery (pest) [Dash, 2005]
Camponotus obliquus Smith [Dash, 2005]
Camponotus pennsylvanicus (DeGeer) (pest)
Camponotus sansabeanus (Buckley) (pest) [Smith, 1979]
Camponotus socius Roger (pest) [Smith, 1979]
Tribe Formicini
Formica biophilica Trager [Trager et al., 2007]
Formica pallidefulva Latreille [Dash, 2005]
Polyergus lucidus Mayr [Dash, 2005]
Subfamily Pseudomyrmecinae
Tribe Pseudomyrmecini
Pseudomyrmex ejectus (Smith) (pest?) [Dash, 2005]
Pseudomyrmex gracilis (Fabricius) (introduced, pest?) [Dash, 2005]
Pseudomyrmex pallidus (Smith) (pest?) [MEM; Dash, 2005]
Pseudomyrmex seminole Ward [Dash, 2005]
Subfamily Ecitoninae
Tribe Ecitonini
Labidus coecus (Latreille) [Dash, 2005]
Neivamyrmex carolinensis (Emery) [Snelling & Snelling, 2007]
Neivamyrmex melshaemeri (Haldeman) [Dash, 2005; Snelling & Snelling, 2007]
Neivamyrmex moseri Watkins [Dash, 2005; Snelling & Snelling, 2007]
Neivamyrmex nigrescens (Cresson) [MEM; Dash, 2005; Snelling & Snelling, 2007]
Neivamyrmex opacithorax (Emery) [Dash, 2005; Snelling & Snelling, 2007]
Neivamyrmex pauxillus (Wheeler) [Dash, 2005; Snelling & Snelling, 2007]
Neivamyrmex pilosus (F. Smith) [Dash, 2005; Snelling & Snelling, 2007]
Neivamyrmex swainsonii (Shuckard) [Dash, 2005; Snelling & Snelling, 2007]
Subfamily Amblyoponinae
Tribe Amblyoponini
Amblyopone pallipes (Haldeman) [AntWeb-Louisinana Ants]
Subfamily Ponerinae
Tribe Ponerini
Cryptopone gilva (Roger) [Dash, 2005]
Hypoponera opaciceps (Mayr) [Dash, 2005]
Hypoponera opacior (Forel) [Dash, 2005]
Leptogenys elongata (Buckley) (introduced) [MEM; Dash, 2005]
Pachycondyla harpax (Fabricius) (introduced, pest?) [MEM; Dash, 2005]
Pachycondyla stigma (Fabricius) (introduced, pest?) [Dash, 2005]
Ponera exotica Smith [Dash, 2005]
Ponera pennsylvanica Buckley [Dash, 2005]
Subfamily Ectatomminae
Tribe Ectatommini
Gnamptogenys hartmani (Wheeler) (introduced) [Dash, 2005]
Subfamily Proceratiinae
Tribe Proceratiini
Discothyrea testacea Roger [Dash, 2005]
Proceratium croceum (Roger) [Baroni Urbani and de Andrade, 2003; Dash, 2005]
Proceratium pergandei (Emery) [Baroni Urbani and de Andrade, 2003; Dash, 2005]
Proceratium silaceum Roger [Dash, 2005]
Subfamily Myrmicinae
Tribe Dacetini
Pyramica angulata (Smith) [Dash, 2005]
Pyramica bunki (Brown) [Bolton, 2000; Dash, 2005]
Pyramica carolinensis (Brown) [Dash, 2005]
Pyramica clypeata (Roger) [Bolton, 2000; Dash, 2005]
Pyramica dietrichi (Smith) [Bolton, 2000; Dash, 2005]
Pyramica hexamera (Brown) (introduced) [Dash, 2005]
Pyramica hyalina Bolton [Dash, 2005]
Pyramica margaritae (Forel) (introduced) [Dash, 2005]
Pyramica membranifera (Emery) (introduced) [Dash, 2005]
Pyramica metazytes Bolton [Dash, 2005]
Pyramica ohioensis (Kennedy & Schramm) [Bolton, 2000; Dash, 2005]
Pyramica ornata (Mayr) [Bolton, 2000; Dash, 2005]
Pyramica pilinasis (Forel) [Bolton, 2000; Dash, 2005]
Pyramica pulchella (Emery) [Bolton, 2000; Dash, 2005]
Pyramica reflexa (Wesson & Wesson) [Dash, 2005]
Pyramica rostrata (Emery) [Bolton, 2000; Dash, 2005]
Pyramica talpa (Weber) [Bolton, 2000; Dash, 2005]
Strumigenys louisianae Roger [MEM; Dash, 2005]
Strumigenys silvestrii Emery(introduced) [Dash, 2005]
Tribe Attini
Atta texana (Buckley) pest [MEM; Dash, 2005]
Cyphomyrmex rimosus (Spinola) (introduced) [MEM; Dash, 2005]
Mycetosoritis hartmanni (Wheeler) [Dash, 2005]
Trachymyrmex septentrionalis (McCook) [MEM; Dash, 2005]
Trachymyrmex turrifex (Wheeler) [Smith, 1979]
Tribe Solenopsidini
Monomorium minimum (Buckley) (pest) [MEM; Dash, 2005]
Monomorium pharaonis (Linnaeus) (introduced, pest) [Dash, 2005]
Solenopsis carolinensis Forel [Dash, 2005]
Solenopsis globularia Creighton [Dash, 2005]
Solenopsis invicta Buren (introduced, pest) [MEM; Dash, 2005]
Solenopsis molesta (Say) (pest) [Dash, 2005]
Solenopsis pergandei Forel [Dash, 2005]
Solenopsis picta Emery [Dash, 2005]
Solenopsis salina Wheeler [Pacheco, 2007]
Solenopsis subterranea MacKay & Vinson [Dash, 2005]
Solenopsis tennesseensis Smith [Dash, 2005]
Solenopsis texana Emery [Pacheco, 2007]
Solenopsis xyloni McCook (pest) [Dash, 2005]
Tribe Myrmicini
Myrmica punctiventris Roger [Dash, 2005]
Pogonomyrmex badius (Latreille) [Dash, 2005]
Pogonomyrmex barbatus (Smith) [Dash, 2005]
Pogonomyrmex comanche Wheeler [MEM; Dash, 2005]
Tribe Tetramoriini
Tetramorium bicarinatum (Nylander) (introduced, pest) [Dash, 2005]
Tetramorium lanuginosum Mayr (introduced, pest) [Smith]
Tribe Pheidolini
Aphaenogaster ashmeadi Emery [Dash, 2005]
Aphaenogaster carolinensis Wheeler [Dash, 2005]
Aphaenogaster flemingi Smith [Dash, 2005]
Aphaenogaster fulva Roger [MEM; Dash, 2005]
Aphaenogaster lamellidens Mayr [Dash, 2005]
Aphaenogaster miamiana Wheeler [AntWeb-Louisinana Ants]
Aphaenogaster tennesseensis (Mayr) [MEM; AntWeb-Louisinana Ants]
Pheidole dentata Mayr (pest?) [MEM; Dash, 2005]
Pheidole dentigula Smith [Dash, 2005]
Pheidole floridana Emery [MEM; Dash, 2005]
Pheidole metallescens Emery [Dash, 2005]
Pheidole moerens Wheeler (introduced) [Dash, 2005]
Pheidole tetra Creighton [Dash, 2005]
Tribe Crematogastrini
Crematogaster ashmeadi Mayr (pest) [Dash, 2005]
Crematogaster atkinsoni Wheeler [Dash, 2005]
Crematogaster lineolata (Say) (pest) [Dash, 2005]
Crematogaster minutissima Mayr [AntWeb-Louisinana Ants]
Crematogaster missuriensis Emery ? [Dash, 2005]
Crematogaster pilosa Emery (pest) [Dash, 2005]
Crematogaster vermiculata Emery [Dash, 2005]
Tribe Formicoxenini
Cardiocondyla nuda (Mayr) (introduced, pest?) [Dash, 2005]
Cardiocondyla venustula Wheeler (introduced, pest?) [Dash, 2005]
Cardiocondyla wroughtonii (Forel) (introduced, pest?) [Dash, 2005]
Temnothorax bradleyi (Wheeler) [Dash, 2005]
Temnothorax curvispinosus (Mayr) [Dash, 2005]
Temnothorax pergandei (Emery) [Dash, 2005]
Temnothorax schaumii (Roger) [Dash, 2005]
Temnothorax texanus (Wheeler) [Dash, 2005]
Tribe Myrmecinini
Myrmecina americana Emery [MEM; Dash, 2005]
Bolton, B. 2000. The Ant Tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. Vol. 65, part 1-2.
Colby, D. M. Effects of Fire Frequency and the Red Imported Fire Ant on Insects in a Louisiana Longleaf Pine Savanna. Ph.D. Dissertation, Louisiana State University, i-v + 78 pp.
Dash, S. T. 2005. Species Diversity and Biogeography of Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Louisiana, with Notes on their Ecology. M.S. Thesis, Louisiana State University, 290 pp.
MacGown, J. A., J.G. Hill, and M. A. Deyrup. 2007. Brachymyrmex patagonicus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), an emerging pest species in the southeastern United States. Florida Entomologist 90: 457-464.
Moser, J. C. and M. S. Blum. 1960. The Formicidae of Louisiana. Insect Conditions in Louisiana 3: 48-50.
Pacheco, J. A. 2007. The New World ants of the genus Solenopsis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). PhD dissertation, The University of Texas at El Paso. i-xxi +543 pp.
Smith, D. R. 1979. In Catalog of Hymenoptera in America north of Mexico. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D. C. Vol. 2, pp. 1323-1427.
Snelling G. C. and R. R. Snelling. 2007. New synonymy, new species, new keys to Neivamyrmex army ants of the United States. In: Snelling, R. R., P. S. Ward, and B. L. Fisher (editors), Advances in ant systematics. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 80: 459-550.
Trager, J. C. 1984. A revision of the genus Paratrechina (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the continental United States. Sociobiology 9: 49-162.
Trager, J. C., J. A. MacGown and M. D. Trager. 2007. Revision of the Nearctic endemic Formica pallidefulva group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae). In: Snelling, R. R., P. S. Ward, and B. L. Fisher (editors), Advances in ant systematics. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 80: 610-636.
Wetterer, J. K. 2008. Technomyrmex difficilis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae (in the West Indies). Florida Entomologist 91: 428-430.
Return to: [MEM] [Formicidae Front Page] [Faunal Lists] [Louisiana Pest Ants] [Louisiana Exotic Ants]
For questions or comments about this page or about ants, contact Joe MacGown: jmacgown@entomology.msstate.edu