Technomyrmex vitiensis

Technomyrex vitiensis is a wide-ranging tramp species which is known from Europe and India east across the South Pacific. It nests in a wide variety of locations and has been collected from leaf litter, under stones, in rotten wood and from vegetation where it may nest in twigs, rot holes and spathes. Foraging is carried out in all of these places and the species, as well as avidly tending homopterous insects for honeydew, will also kill and consume small arthropods.

Identification
For identification of this species see the Pacific Invasive Ant key

Identification Keys including this Taxon
Key to US Technomyrmex species

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Comoros, Kenya. Australasian Region: New Caledonia. Indo-Australian Region: Borneo, Fiji, French Polynesia, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Guinea, Niue, Philippines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu. Malagasy Region: Mayotte, Seychelles. Nearctic Region: United States. Neotropical Region: French Guiana. Oriental Region: Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Thailand. Palaearctic Region: Belgium.



Nomenclature

 *  vitiensis. Technomyrmex albipes var. vitiensis Mann, 1921: 473 (w.) FIJI IS. Santschi, 1928a: 52 (m.). Junior synonym of albipes: Wilson & Taylor, 1967: 82. Revived from synonymy, raised to species and senior synonym of rufescens: Bolton, 2007a: 104.
 * rufescens. Technomyrmex albipes st. rufescens Santschi, 1928c: 70, fig. 1 (w.) FIJI IS. Junior synonym of albipes: Wilson & Taylor, 1967: 82; of vitiensis: Bolton, 2007a: 104.