Tetramorium immigrans

Tetramorium immigrans
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Crematogastrini
Genus:	Tetramorium
Species:	T. immigrans
Binomial name
Tetramorium immigrans Santschi, 1927

Common Name
Pavement Ant
Language:	English

More thermophilic than all species except Tetramorium hungaricum, Tetramorium breviscapus, and Tetramorium fusciclava; TAS of 201 sites 19.9 ± 2.5 °C [13.0, 26.7]. In France and partially Central Europe synanthropic: roadsides, ruderal areas, parks, gardens, pavements, railway constructions, stone pits, balconies, inside of buildings. In Pannonian zone, Mediterranean, and Caucasus most common species in anthropogenic areas, but also primary habitats like semi-arid and arid grasslands, rocky and sandy grasslands, beaches, river banks, rock walls. Bulgarian records from forests. Nests often between cracks of concrete, asphalt, rocks, as well as under stones; small soil mounds exist. In Greece, this species was noted from most provinces except Cyclades and Epirus. It is known almost exclusively from anthropogenic habitats, urban grasses, parks, and tourist resorts. Only in one site from Crete, it was collected from natural habitat (Borowiec & Salata, 2021).

At a Glance

• Invasive

Identification

A member of the Tetramorium caespitum species complex. See Wagner et al. (2017) and https://webapp.uibk.ac.at/ecology/tetramorium/ for keys.

Keys including this Species

• Key to US Tetramorium species

Distribution

Wagner et al. (2017) - Mediterranean, Western Europe, Central Europe, Balkans, Eastern Europe, Anatolia, Caucasus, introduced to North (Steiner & al. 2008) and South America (Santschi 1927).

This is a tramp species of subcosmopolitic distribution. In Greece, it was noted from most provinces except Cyclades and Epirus (Borowiec et al., 2022).

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 51.725° to 35.1167°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Nearctic Region: United States.
Neotropical Region: Argentina, Chile (type locality).
Palaearctic Region: Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Hungary, Türkiye.

Distribution based on AntMaps

Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Countries Occupied

Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species.

Estimated Abundance

Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species.

Biology

In North America, this species is a common indoor pest in eastern North America, especially near the coast. Nests are frequently located under building foundations and workers forage for food inside. Once a food source is located, mass recruitment occurs along a well defined odor trail. Commonly known as "pavement" ants this species is often seen in late spring and early summer out on sidewalks in huge battles with neighboring colonies. Baits can be very effective in eliminating colonies within structures. In nature, colonies are often found nesting in soil under stones and the eastern subterranean termite is a common prey.

Adult sexuals on 27 June ± 39d [17 March, 29 September] (n = 16). Tetramorium atratulum was found in a nest of Tetramorium immigrans (Wagner et al. 2017).

Hybridizes with Tetramorium caespitum (Wagner et al. 2017; Cordonnier et al. 2019; Cordonnier et al. 2020).

M.R. Smith (1956) - Nests are usually constructed in exposed soil, or under the cover of stones, pavement, or other objects, and in rotting wood ... also in houses, most commonly around or between the lower masonry walls of the foundation .... Colonies are moderately large to large .... The ants are almost omnivorous and feed on both dead and live insects, honeydew, seeds, the sap of plants, and various household foods such as meats, grease, nuts, potato chips, cheese, honey and bread, but the ants seem to show a preference for meat or grease. Workers steal seeds from seed beds and girdle, scar, or scarify the roots or stems of many agricultural plants.

Sano et al. (2018) characterized the cuticular hydrocarbons of this species. They also showed that workers use cuticular hydrocarbon profiles to recognize non-nestmate conspecific and heterospecfic workers.

Flight Period

						X
Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

• Check details at Worldwide Ant Nuptial Flights Data, AntNupTracker and AntKeeping.

 Explore: Show all Flight Month data or Search these data. See also a list of all data tables or learn how data is managed.

Association with Other Organisms

 Explore: Show all Associate data or Search these data. See also a list of all data tables or learn how data is managed.

• This species is a host for the ant Tetramorium aspina in Turkey (Wagner et al., 2018).

Fungi

• This species is a host for the fungus Myrmicinosporidium durum (a pathogen) in Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Czech Republic, Slovakia (Csősz et al., 2012).

Castes

Images from AntWeb

Worker. Specimen code casent0005827. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by UCDC, Davis, CA, USA.

Worker. Specimen code casent0106026. Photographer Michael Branstetter, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by UCDC, Davis, CA, USA.

Tetramorium  X-ray micro-CT scan 3D model of Tetramorium immigrans (worker) prepared by the Economo lab at OIST.

Tetramorium immigrans. Pavement ant native from Europe but introduced pest ant in the United States. Collected in San Francisco (located at OIST: CASENT0317570). See on Sketchfab. See list of 3D images.

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

• immigrans. Tetramorium caespitum var. immigrans Santschi, 1927a: 54 (w.) CHILE.
  • Junior synonym of caespitum: Bolton, 1979: 171; Radchenko, 2016: 244.
  • Status as species: Wagner, et al. 2017: 120 (redescription).

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Worker

Wagner et al. (2017) - Lectotype in μm: CL = 914, CW = 912, dAN = 246, EL = 183, EW = 142, FL = 355, HFL = 783, MC1TG = 25.1, ML = 1100, MPPL = 318, MPSP = 427, MPST = 236, MtpW = 461, MW = 592, PEH = 313, PEL = 218, PEW = 310, PLSP = 223, PLST = 243, PnHL = 238, PoOc = 363, POTCos = 12, PPH = 343, PPL = 144, Ppss = 68, PPW = 379, PreOc = 223, RTI = 359, SLd = 727, SPST = 213, SPWI = 289.

Largest species of complex, CS = 834 ± 56 [713, 943] μm. Dark brown to blackish, rarely reddish.

Head moderately elongate, CL / CW = 1.012 ± 0.013 [0.985, 1.035]. Eye medium-sized, EYE / CS = 0.176 ± 0.004 [0.167, 0.189]. Scape long, SLd / CS = 0.784 ± 0.014 [0.755, 0.817]. Mesosoma moderately long and narrow, ML / CS = 1.158 ± 0.020 [1.109, 1.201], MW / CS = 0.629 ± 0.012 [0.605, 0.649].

Promesonotal dorsum convex, metanotal groove shallow. – Head dorsum and occiput with longitudinal costae and costulae. Postoculo-temporal area of head with highest number of costae and costulae in complex, POTCos = 12.33 ± 1.67 [8.25, 16.13]. Mesosoma dorsum longitudinally rugulose, lateral side of propodeum with pronounced sculpture, Ppss = 30.5 ± 14.5 [13.6, 63.3]. Dorsum of petiolar with sculpture, reticulate microsculpture, or smooth. General surface appearance rather dull. – Connected stickman-like or reticulate microsculpture: large units scattered over 1st gastral tergite, MC1TG = 21.67 ± 2.68 [16.07, 27.00]. – Some workers with long c-shaped, crinkly, or sinuous hairs on ventral head posterior to buccal cavity.

Male

Wagner et al. (2017) - Paramere structure belongs to caespitum-like form: ventral paramere lobe with one or two sharp corners; without distinct emargination between paramere lobes in posterior view, both paramere lobes reduced in size. In ventro-posterior view, second corner on ventral paramere lobe > 87 μm apart from first. In posterior view, two corners on ventral lobe.

Type Material

Wagner et al. (2017) - Valparaíso (Chile), 33.05° S, 71.61° W, 18 m, leg. Edwards, 1926. Lectotype designation. Worker of middle card closer to needle than second worker, labeled "TYPE [–] "Chili Valparaiso, Miss Edwards" [–] "Tetramorium caespitum L immigrans Sant". SANTSCHI det. 19 "26" [–] Sammlung Dr. F. Santschi Kairouan", designated as lectotype. Lectotype worker and seven paralectotype workers in Naturhistorisches Museum Basel (Switzerland).

References

• Bertelsmeier, C. 2021. Globalization and the anthropogenic spread of invasive social insects. Current Opinion in Insect Science 46, 16–23. (doi:10.1016/j.cois.2021.01.006).
• Booher, D.B. 2021. The ant genus Strumigenys Smith, 1860 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in western North America north of Mexico. Zootaxa 5061, 201–248 (doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5061.2.1).
• Borowiec, L., Lebas, C., Salata, S. 2022. Notes on ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from three northern Aegean islands – Lemnos, Samothraki and Thasos. Annals of the Upper Silesian Museum in Bytom, Entomology 31: 1-14 (doi:10.5281/ZENODO.7346453).
• Borowiec, L., Salata, S. 2018. Tetramorium immigrans Santschi, 1927 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) nowy gatunek potencjalnie inwazyjnej mrówki w polsce. Acta entomologica silesiana 26: 1-5 (doi:10.5281/ZENODO.1169156).
• Borowiec, L., Salata, S. 2022. Notes on ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Thassos Island, Greece. Annals of the Upper Silesian Museum in Bytom, Entomology 31 (online 2): 1-15 (doi:10.5281/ZENODO.6123287).
• Borowiec, L., van Delft, J.P.L., van Delft, J.J.C.W., Salata, S. 2023. Five ant species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) new to the Greek fauna with notes on ants from Greek Thrace. Annales of the Upper Silesian Museum in Bytom, Entomology 32 (online 008), 1-13 (doi:10.5281/ZENODO.10101028).
• Bračko, G. 2019. New data on the ant fauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Azerbaijan. Caucasian Entomological Bulletin 15, 165–175 (doi:10.23885/181433262019151-165175).
• Bulter, I. 2020. Hybridization in ants. Ph.D. thesis, Rockefeller University.
• Castracani, C., Spotti, F.A., Schifani, E., Giannetti, D., Ghizzoni, M., Grasso, D.A., Mori, A. 2020. Public engagement provides first insights on Po Plain ant communities and reveals the ubiquity of the cryptic species Tetramorium immigrans (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Insects 11, 678. (doi:10.3390/insects11100678).
• Chalissery, J.M., Gries, R., Alamsetti, S.K., Ardiel, M.J., Gries, G. 2021. Identification of the trail pheromone of the Pavement Ant Tetramorium immigrans (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of Chemical Ecology (doi:10.1007/s10886-021-01317-3).
• Cordonnier, M., Escarguel, G., Dumet, A., Kaufmann, B. 2020. Multiple mating in the context of interspecific hybridization between two Tetramorium ant species. Heredity 124, 675–684 (doi:10.1038/s41437-020-0310-3).
• Cordonnier, M., Gayet, T., Escarguel, G., Kaufmann, B. 2019. From hybridization to introgression between two closely related sympatric ant species. Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evololutionary Research 2019;00:1–11 (DOI 10.1111/jzs.12297).
• Csősz, S., Báthori, F., Gallé, L., Lőrinczi, G., Maák, I., Tartally, A., Kovács, É., Somogyi, A.Á., Markó, B. 2021. The myrmecofauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Hungary: Survey of ant species with an annotated synonymic inventory. Insects 16;12(1):78 (doi:10.3390/insects12010078).
• Csősz, S., Lapeva-Gjonova, A., Markó, B., Hagedorn, H. 2012. New data on the geographical distribution and host utilization of the entomopathogenic fungus Myrmicinosporidium durum'. Journal of Insect Science 12:129 (doi:10.1673/031.012.12901).
• de la Mora, A., Sankovitz, M., Purcell, J. 2020. Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) as host and intruder: recent advances and future directions in the study of exploitative strategies. Myrmecological News 30: 53-71 (doi:10.25849/MYRMECOL.NEWS_030:053).
• Giannetti, D., Schifani, E., Castracani, C., Ghizzoni, M., Delaiti, M., Pfenner, F., Spotti, F.A., Mori, A., Ioriatti, C., Grasso, D.A. 2021. Assessing ant diversity in agroecosystems: the case of Italian vineyards of the Adige Valley. Redia 104, 97–109 (doi:10.19263/redia-104.21.11).
• Ivanov, K. 2019. The ants of Ohio (Hymenoptera, Formicidae): an updated checklist. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 70: 65–87 (doi:10.3897@jhr.70.35207).
• Kiran, K., Karaman, C. 2020. Additions to the ant fauna of Turkey (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Zoosystema 42(18), 285-329 (doi:10.5252/zoosystema2020v42a18).
• Lapeva-Gjonova, A., Antonova, V. 2022. An updated checklist of ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of Bulgaria, after 130 years of research. Biodiversity Data Journal 10, e95599 (doi:10.3897/bdj.10.e95599).
• Moss, A.D., Swallow, J.G., Greene, M.J. 2022. Always under foot: Tetramorium immigrans (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), a review. Myrmecological News 32: 75-92 (doi:10.25849/MYRMECOL.NEWS_032:075).
• Orou, N., Csősz, S., Arnan, X., Pol, R. G., Arthofer, W., Schlick-Steiner, B. C., Steiner, F. M. 2023. Messor erwini sp. n., a hitherto cryptic harvester ant in the Iberian Peninsula. Zoologischer Anzeiger 307, 36–53 (doi:10.1016/j.jcz.2023.09.001).
• Pawluk, F., Borowiec, L., Salata, S. 2022. First record of Plagiolepis alluaudi Emery, 1894 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Poland. Annals of the Upper Silesian Museum in Bytom Entomology 31 (online 006) 1-5 (doi:10.5281/ZENODO.6522444).
• Purkart, A., Wagner, H.C., Goffová, K., Selnekovič, D., Holecová, M. 2021. Laboratory observations on Anergates atratulus (Schenck, 1852): mating behaviour, incorporation into host colonies, and competition with Strongylognathus testaceus (Schenck, 1852). Biologia (doi:10.1007/s11756-021-00901-y).
• Salata, S., Borowiec, L. 2019. Comments to distribution of several Greek Tetramorium Mayr, 1855 species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Annals of the Upper Silesian Museum in Bytom, Entomology 28, 1-9 (doi:10.5281/ZENODO.2644897).
• Salata, S., Borowiec, L., Trichas, A. 2020. Review of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Crete, with keys to species determination and zoogeographical remarks. Monographs of the Upper Silesian Museum No 12: 5–296 (doi:10.5281/ZENODO.3738001).
• Salata, S., Khalili-Moghadam, A., Borowiec, L. 2024. A new species of the Tetramorium meridionale species-group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Iran. Zoology in the Middle East 70, 161–175 (doi:10.1080/09397140.2024.2359167).
• Sano, K., N. Bannon, and M. J. Greene. 2018. Pavement Ant Workers (Tetramorium caespitum) Assess Cues Coded in Cuticular Hydrocarbons to Recognize Conspecific and Heterospecific Non-Nestmate Ants. Journal of Insect Behavior. 31:186-199. doi:10.1007/s10905-017-9659-4
• Schär, S., Menchetti, M., Schifani, E., Hinojosa, J.C., Platania, L., Dapporto, L., Vila, R. 2020. Integrative biodiversity inventory of ants from a Sicilian archipelago reveals high diversity on young volcanic islands (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Organisms Diversity, Evolution 20, 405–416 (doi:10.1007/s13127-020-00442-3).
• Schifani, E., Csősz, S., Viviano, R., Alicata, A. 2021. Ant diversity on the largest Mediterranean islands: on the presence or absence of 28 species in Sicily (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Natural History Sciences 8, 55–70 (doi:10.4081/nhs.2021.532).
• Schifani, E., Nalini, E., Gentile, V., Alamanni, F., Ancona, C., Caria, M., Cillo, D., Bazzato, E. 2021. Ants of Sardinia: An updated checklist based on new faunistic, morphological and biogeographical notes. Redia 104, 21–35 (doi:10.19263/redia-104.21.03).
• Seifert, B. 2021. Surviving the winter: Tetramorium sibiricum n. sp., a new Central Siberian ant species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Osmia 9, 15–24 (doi:10.47446/osmia9.3).
• Snegovaya, N., Shigayev, C. 2021. A checklist of the ants (Insecta, Formicidae) of Azerbaijan Republic. Iranian Journal of Animal Biosystematics 17(2): 179-207 (doi:10.22067/ijab.2022.67343.1000).
• Wagner, H.C., Arthofer, W., Seifert, B., Muster, C., Steiner, F.M. & Schlick-Steiner, B.C. 2017. Light at the end of the tunnel: Integrative taxonomy delimits cryptic species in the Tetramorium caespitum complex. Myrmecological News 25: 95-129.
• Waters, J.S., Keough, N.W., Burt, J., Eckel, J.D., Hutchinson, T., Ewanchuk, J., Rock, M., Markert, J.A., Axen, H.J., Gregg, D. 2022. Survey of ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in the city of Providence (Rhode Island, United States) and a new northern-most record for Brachyponera chinensis (Emery, 1895). Check List 18(6), 1347–1368 (doi:10.15560/18.6.1347).
• Zhang, Y.M., Vitone, T.R., Storer, C.G., Payton, A.C., Dunn, R.R., Hulcr, J., McDaniel, S.F., Lucky, A. 2019 From pavement to population genomics: Characterizing a long-established non-native ant in North America through citizen science and ddRADseq. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 7:453 doi:10.3389/fevo.2019.00453).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Lenoir A., and C. Galkowski. 2017. Sur la présence d’une fourmi envahissante (Tapinoma magnum) dans le Sud-Ouest de la France. Bull. Soc. Linn. Bordeaux 152, 45(4): 449-453.
• Salata S., and L. Borowiec. 2018. Taxonomic and faunistic notes on Greek ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Annals of the Upper Silesian Museum in Bytom Entomology 27: 1-51.
• Salata S., and L. Borowiec. 2019. Comments to distribution of several Greek Tetramorium Mayr, 1855 species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Annals of the Upper Silesian Museum in Bytom Entomology 28(2): 1-9.
• Salata S., and L. Borowiec. 2019. Preliminary division of not socially parasitic Greek Temnothorax Mayr, 1861 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) with a description of three new species. ZooKeys 877: 81-131.
• Schar S., G Talavera, X. Espadaler, J. D. Rana, A. A. Andersen, S. P. Cover, and R. Vila. 2018. Do Holarctic ant species exist? Trans-Beringian dispersal and homoplasy in the Formicidae. Journal of Biogeography 00: 1-12.
• Wagner H. C., W. Arthofer, B. Seifert, C. Muster, F. M. Steiner, and B. C. Schlick-Steiner. 2017. Light at the end of the tunnel: Integrative taxonomy delimits cryptic species in the Tetramorium caespitum complex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Myrmecological News 25: 95-129.